Public Works Supervisor of the Year | City Administrator of the Year | Office Manager of the Year | Rural Water Manager of the Year | Wastewater Operator of the Year | Friend of Rural Water Award | Rural Water Operator of the Year | City Clerk of the Year | Most Improved System | Silver Faucet Award
Phillips County Rural Water District No. 1 Receives USDA Award
Topeka, KS, April 13, 2010 - USDA Rural Development State Director, Patty Clark announced that Phillips County Rural Water District No. 1 has been recognized as the Agency’s 2010 Silver Faucet Award winner. Clark presented the award during the Kansas Rural Water Association’s annual conference in Wichita in recognition of the District’s outstanding effort to provide customers a safe, affordable and dependable water supply.
"Phillips County Rural Water District No. 1 is most deserving of the Agency’s Silver Faucet Award. The District’s perseverance and dedication to overcome challenges in the pursuit of their goal to provide a reliable source of quality water for rural residents of Phillips County is acknowledged through this award. We congratulate the District on an outstanding job," remarked State Director Patty Clark.
Each year USDA Rural Development presents the Silver Faucet Award to a water supply system in Kansas that exemplifies the qualities of cooperation, dedication and leadership in providing both high quality and dependable quantity of water service to rural water users. The 2010 announcement marked the 36th year that USDA Rural Development presented the award to a water system for exemplary actions and leadership.
In 1989, the concept of a water district to serve the rural area near Phillipsburg was developed by a handful of concerned citizens. A public meeting was held, with Elmer Ronebaum of Kansas Rural Water Association as the main speaker and the planning began.
In 1990, the Schwab-Eaton Engineering firm was engaged to evaluate solutions for the area’s water challenges. An adequate supply of water was difficult to find. From 1991 through 2001, the steering committee investigated numerous potential sources of water, including wells and the City of Phillipsburg. Their first efforts stalled.
However, in April, 2001, a ground water source was found and a Water Supply Permit Application was filed with the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources. A well field, generously donated in memory of Henry and Alice Kats by their family, was of excellent quality and located at the highest point of elevation in the district, so the entire system is gravity fed and expensive pumping is not required.
During this period, USDA Rural Development Specialists consulted with the steering committee regarding Agency program funding for the critically needed water system.
In May of 2005, the District was awarded two loans totaling $1,484,000 and two grants totaling $1,269,000 from USDA Rural Development. These funds were leveraged with grants from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, The Morgan Foundation, and The Cole Foundation. Construction was started in March of 2007 and the District began distributing and selling water in December of 2007.
Completion of the project is due to the collaborative efforts of Kansas Rural Water Association, USDA Rural Development, Schwab-Eaton Engineering, and primarily the efforts, perseverance and vision of the members and supporters of the steering committee and board, which brought this rural water district to a reality.
USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development fosters growth in homeownership, finances business development and supports the creation of critical community and technology infrastructure. For additional information regarding USDA Rural Development and its programs, log onto the Agency’s website at www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks or call the Agency’s state office at 785-271-2700.