DEXTER, Maine — USDA Rural Development has selected the Dexter Utility  District to receive a Water and Waste Disposal Loan of $600,000 and Grant of $420,000.

The $1 million in funds will be used to upgrade the Dexter Utility District’s wastewater treatment facility. The project will improve operating efficiencies and help provide safe and reliable wastewater treatment services for the residential, business, and public facility customers on the system. The project will also provide economic benefits by preserving the quality of the Sebasticook Watershead.

USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel said, “I am very pleased that USDA Rural Development can partner with the Dexter Utility District to ensure timely improvements are made so the District can continue to provide reliable services to the residents and users on the system in Dexter.”

Dexter Utility District Superintendant Randy Webber said, “This project will provide upgrades to the wastewater aeration treatment system to improve the efficiency of the facility’s treatment process and will remove and properly dispose of the twenty-five years of accumulated treated solids from the lagoons.”

USDA Rural Development has provided $2.9 million in FY 2012 through its water and wastewater programs to assist Dexter Utility District in providing reliable utilities to its users.

Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA Rural Development’s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/me.