Tester Delivers Clean Water for 8 Montana Communities

Senator Secures $2.5 Million Investment in Rural Water Systems

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester delivered a $2.5 million investment to protect clean water in Big Sky Country.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester secured the grants from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help rural communities generate clean drinking water and manage wastewater systems.

“Access to safe and clean drinking water is a necessity whether you’re running a business, farming or raising kids,” Tester said. “These investments in Montana’s water systems are investments that will boost our economy and keep our communities strong.”

Tester has been relentless in his effort to complete local water projects and bring clean water to every Montana community.

These grants come shortly after Tester secured funding for rural water projects in the bipartisan budget bill that President Trump signed in March. Tester was the only member of the Montana delegation to vote in favor of the funding.

Tester also authored the Authorized Rural Water Projects Completion Act, which allocates $80 million annually for the next 20 years to complete the construction of Montana’s rural water projects. The funding for Tester’s bill will not come from taxpayers, but from the Bureau of Reclamation Fund that uses receipts from onshore oil and gas development and other federal revenue to fund infrastructure projects.

Tester’s funding will be awarded to the following water projects:

• $200,000 to Eureka
• $300,000 to Harlowton
• $300,000 to Heart Butte School
• $300,000 to Nine Mile Valley 
• $200,000 to Sanders County
• $500,000 to Seeley Lake
• $450,000 to South Winds Estate in Great Falls
• $250,000 to Sweet Grass