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The City of DeSoto recently received a state grant to help fund their upcoming water projects.

The City received $100,000 through the Wastewater and Drinking Water Financial Assistance Program, which was created two years ago by the State Legislature. DeSoto will put the funds towards their $3.8 million project, which includes the construction of a new well, a new drinking water treatment plant, and a water main to connect to rural water for redundancy. The City was one of six Iowa communities to receive the competitive grant, for which 27 applications were submitted, requesting over $8 million in funding.

The State allocated $775,000 during this grant cycle, a figure that will incrementally increase over the next nine years. The grants are paid through the tax on metered water across Iowa, and the projects are chosen by a committee consisting of various state entities, including the Iowa Finance Authority and Department of Natural Resources. Preference for grants is given to disadvantaged communities, watershed projects, alternative treatment technologies, communities with high sewer or water rates, nutrient reduction, and improvements to drinking water sources.