The Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority, which serves Elkin, Jonesville and Ronda, will be receiving a zero-interest $1.05 million grant from the North Carolina Division of Water Quality’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

The grant will be used to rehabilitate 13 wastewater pump stations, some of which are in critical locations such as drinking water supply watersheds for Elkin and Jonesville.

Due to age and deterioration, the pump stations have recurring equipment failures and lack backup power sources, according to Nicole Johnston, executive director of Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority.

Four failing pump stations will be replaced with gravity sewer lines to reduce the possibility of wastewater spills and 13 pump stations will be repaired.

“We’re eliminating four of our less reliable pump stations and up grading 13 stations to better handle the flow,” said Nicole Johnston, executive director of Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority. “They are out of date and older and need to be made more reliable, so we’re using this to do infrastructure upgrades.”

“The sewer authority board is elated about getting the amount that we got,” Johnston said.

Reach Darcie Dyer at 835-1513 or ddyer@heartlandpublications.com.