ICYMI: Congresswoman Schrier, Darrington Community Celebrate Federal Funding for Local Water Infrastructure

DARRINGTON, WA - Yesterday, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), visited a groundwater well in Darrington with local leaders to celebrate federal funding she was able to secure for the Darrington Drinking Water Infrastructure Expansion Project. Congresswoman Schrier's visit showcased the importance of improving current infrastructure to bolster access to potable water, bring the system up to modern firefighting standards, and reduce the risk of drinking water contamination.

Through FY 2026 Community Project Funding (CPF) requests in Congress, Congresswoman Schrier secured $850,000 to improve Darrington's water distribution system. This project will:

• Design and construct an iron water main with eight low and moderate-income residential service connections. This new water line will replace the current system and move existing water lines from private land to town easements.
• Build a concrete well protection enclosure with electrical and communications systems to securely house the well pump and all necessary parts.
• Add five new fire hydrants to areas where there is currently no fire protection, bringing the current system up to modern firefighting standards.

"I know that in Darrington, access to reliable, clean water has been a concern for residents and local leaders. The failure of water pumps and a lack of potable water and fire hydrants have created emergency situations in the past," said Congresswoman Schrier. "I'm proud of my work in Congress to bring home federal dollars to fix Darrington's water system, keeping our communities safe and investing in infrastructure for generations to come. These dollars, as part of the $14 million I am proud to have secured in Community Project Funding this year, will improve the health, safety, and well-being of our communities in the Eighth District."

"We are thrilled to have Representative Dr. Schrier working for all of us in Washington's Eighth District," said Darrington Mayor Dan Rankin. "She is bringing vital community project funding home to communities like mine here in Darrington. This year, Rep. Schrier helped us attain funding to bring our third water well online. This ensures that our outlying community continues to have access to clean, cool drinking water into the future. The funding she brought to our town bridged a financial gap that we could never have crossed without her hard work and diligence in the other Washington."

"Reliable water infrastructure is one of the most important tools we have to protect lives and property in a rural community like Darrington," said Fire Chief Joel Johnson of Darrington Fire District 24. "Expanding water service and hydrant capacity will strengthen fire protection, support emergency medical response, and improve the overall health and safety of our residents. We are grateful to Congresswoman Schrier and the town of Darrington for helping secure this investment and for recognizing how critical these projects are for communities like ours."

This Congress, Congresswoman Schrier also secured funding for local water infrastructure projects in Carbonado, Wilkeson, and Covington.

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