Rio Grande City, Texas— U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced a $10,256,381 grant for the Rio Water Supply Corporation to improve Rio Grande City’s water supply and treatment. The grant was awarded through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and will be used to construct a raw water intake, water reservoir, surface water treatment plant, and elevated tank for colonias between Rio Grande City and Roma.

The project will help ensure access to clean drinking water and adequate water pressure for more than 2,000 residents of colonias in Starr County Precinct 1, between Roma and Rio Grande City. These colonias include Benjamin Perez, Flor del Rio, and La Esperanza.

“This historic grant funding will ensure that the residents of rural areas in Starr County have the quality water services they deserve,” said Congressman Cuellar. “It is essential that we continue to provide the necessary water infrastructure rural areas require to flourish. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I was able to increase the amount of funding USDA receives for water projects and I will continue to work to increase this amount every year. I want to thank USDA and Starr County Judge Eloy Vera for once ageain meeting the needs of our rural communities in Starr County.”

"I would like to thank Congressman Cuellar for his support in ensuring that our community’s source of water continues to be safe by providing this critical funding,” said Starr County Judge Eloy Vera.

The funds will be used construct and install a 2,083-gpm raw water intake, 6.5-million-gallon raw water reservoir, 3.0 MGD surface water treatment plant, 500,000-gallon elevated tank with tank mixer, 397,000 gallon standpipe with tank mixer, Alvarez Booster Station w/two close coupled pumps with VFD, and a water distribution system with looped dead ends and automated drive-by water meters.

The project will be completed by March 2025.

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