SOCORRO, New Mexico (STPNS) -- U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman and USDA Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner presented a check of $1,218,7000 to the City of Socorro Saturday, which represented the obligation of a loan grant package from the USDA Rural Development.

Receiving the check for the city was the mayor and various city council members at the Plaza.

The funding came from the USDA Rural Development’s Community Programs to expand sewer service to 54 homes.

The expanded services were needed because of possible ground water contamination coming from leaky septic tanks and outhouses. Construction will include 1 mile of gravity sewer line, 2 submersible duplex sewer lift stations and the paving of roads that will be torn up to complete the construction.