| Resources |
STEP projects in Rio Grande |
| Border Breeze - San Juan, Texas |
| The Hidalgo County Secretary of State Colonia Self-Help Initiatives
Program identified 14 families without water or the financial resources
needed to fund their connections. This project connected those families
to the North Alamo Water Supply Corporation’s (NAWSC) water
mainline. In a collaborative effort, the city of San Juan’s
Mayor, The Rensselaerville Institute (TRI) and NAWSC supervisors
reached an agreement to assist the residents of Colonia Border Breeze.
Through the Supplemental Environment Program (SEP), administered
by The Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), TRI contributed
$10,000.00 towards the construction of the main water connection
line, membership fees and material. The North Alamo Water Supply
Corp. waived connection fees and reduced membership fees, and the
City of San Juan waived inspection fees. |
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| This project had an estimated retail cost of $29,000; however
through the self-help approach, the project’s final cost was
$14,000. |
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| West Track – Weslaco, Texas |
| The project focused on 7 homeowners with septic tanks leaking
effluent which caused Colonia families and their children to become
sick. |
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| After assessing each of the homeowner’s sites, it was determined
that the residents were in drastic need of assistance. But residents
were unable to pay for the costs of extending the sewer line and
connecting to the city of Weslaco’s conventional sewer treatment
system. By using TRI’s Self-Help initiative, funding through
SEP and collaborative efforts with the City of Weslaco, the project
was a success. |
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| The retail cost for this project was more than $20,000. Through
TRI’s Self-Help initiative, this project was completed for
$13,414. |
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| Big 5 – Edinburg, Texas |
| 15 families with no potable water and leaking septic tanks that
created cesspools in their yards were identified for this project.
The cesspools created dangerous conditions to residents and children,
many of whom broke out with unexplained rashes and sores. |
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| After accessing each of the sites, it was determined that connecting
to water services or upgrading the failing septic systems were options
that were too expensive. The TWDB through its Colonia Self-Help
Program gave the residents a grant for the installation of water
connections. In the second phase of the project, the failing septic
tanks were upgraded. This was paid for in part by a private organization
and the Environmental Protection Agency. Aerobics Septic Wastewater
Systems were approved for installation, and residents were educated
on the function, operation and installation of these mini sewer
plants. This was the first Aerobic Septic System in the Lower Rio
Grande Valley. |
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| Both phases of this project had a retail cost of more than $375,000.
Through TRI’s Self-Help initiative, the project was completed
for $200,621. |
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| Kay-Mar - Weslaco, Texas |
| This projected connected 11 families with failing septic tanks
to Weslaco’s conventional system. The 11 homes were connected
with the assistance of the city of Weslaco and the residents’
sweat equity. Upon completion of the service line to their homes,
their septic tanks were decommissioned. |
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| This project was funded through SEP, which gave local businesses
the opportunity to reduce fines for participation in the project.
In a collaborative effort and in an attempt to keep cost as low
as possible, the city of Weslaco worked hand in hand with TRI by
providing heavy machinery and waiving inspection and connection
fees. |
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| The retail cost of the project was $9,250; it was completed with
the self-help approach for only $4,624. |
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