EPA Honors Oregon Water Co-op for Clean Water Innovation

Infrastructure upgrades bring clean water and reliability to rural Oregon community.

• By Stasia DeMarco
• May 23, 2025

The Scravel Hill Water Co-op has received a WATERS award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its innovative use of funding from Oregon’s Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program. The fund is co-administered by the Oregon Health Authority and Business Oregon.

The co-op secured a $1.7 million low-interest loan through the program to overhaul its aging water infrastructure, which serves about 300 residents in Linn County. Much of the original system was more than 50 years old, including brittle asbestos concrete pipes and insufficient emergency power capabilities.

Project upgrades included installing new natural gas-powered backup generators and replacing outdated asbestos and PVC pipes with modern PVC and HDPE waterlines. These improvements are designed to enhance water system reliability, resilience and compliance with regulatory standards.

The 30-year loan carries a 2.68% interest rate and includes $280,000 in principal forgiveness, making the project more affordable for local ratepayers.

“EPA is pleased to recognize the Scravel Hill Water Co-op for their innovative efforts to provide clean water to residents,” said EPA Region 10 Administrator Emma Pokon. “The new infrastructure funded by EPA and Oregon’s program will be more resilient and help the water system meet the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act.”

Samina Panwhar of the Oregon Health Authority praised the upgrades, saying they will help ensure long-term water quality and emergency preparedness. Business Oregon’s Ed Tabor called the project a model for how rural communities can use low-cost financing to strengthen essential services.

The WATERS award program highlights projects that are well-planned, affordable, and adaptable, with a focus on efficiency, resilience, and sustainability. Scravel Hill was nominated by Business Oregon staff.

Oregon’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund offers low-interest loans to public and nonprofit water systems for infrastructure planning, design, and construction. As loans are repaid, the funds are reinvested into future projects statewide.