OLIVE BRANCH AREA BEGINS WASTEWATER, SEWER PROJECT

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Construction of a sewage-collection and wastewater-treatment plant will get under way in this Southern Illinois community this week.

The new system will enable the community's more than 1,384 residents to safely dispose of sewage without fear of posing a community health or safety risk, say officials who gathered at the Olive Branch Community Center Wednesday for an official groundbreaking ceremony hosted by the Central Alexander County Sanitary District.

The $2.7 million project was approved by Olive Branch voters during a 1992 election. Included in the project are the unincorporated community of Olive Branch and nearby areas.

Southern Engineering Corp. designed the system, which will consist of an 8-inch sewer main and a two-cell treatment lagoon with rock filter sewage treatment. The lagoon will be about a mile northeast of Olive Branch.

A few hours following the groundbreaking ceremony, federal, state and local officials gathered at Ware a half-hour away from Olive Branch to celebrate the completion of a new sewer system there.

The $747,000 system for the Ware Sanitary Corp. serves about 200 residents. The Ware project was also designed by Southern Engineering Corp., and is the culmination of a four-year effort. Sue Moreland is president of the corporation.

Both sewage systems received partial funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program and the Community Development Assistance program.

Rural Development provided funding for the Olive Branch project in the amount of a $1 million loan and a $1,247,000. In addition, a grant of $450,000 was provided by Community Development.

Rural Development provided $120,000 in the form of a loan for the Ware project. Community Development provided a grant of $627,500.

"USDA Rural Development is dedicated to providing its services to rural residents across the state of Illinois," said Wally Furrow, state director of the agency. "We are pleased that the federal government can help areas bring safe sewage disposal to rural areas."

During fiscal year 1998, Rural Development water and wastewater programs obligated more than $24 million in loans and grants to towns and communities in Illinois. The loans and grants are designed to provide fresh, clean drinking water and sanitary and environmentally sound wastewater facilities.