Recovering from Hurricane Harvey: Assistance Available to Help With Water Well Repairs
October 20, 2017
Corrie Bowen
County Extension Agent
Wharton County
I want to reach out to my Ag Extension clientele to tell you about a program in Wharton County that is available to Wharton County flood victims. Last week the Wharton County Commissioners Court approved to utilize some donated funds to help Wharton County flood victims recover from Hurricane Harvey. The funds will be used in two ways:
- To pay for well water tests through November 14, 2017. The Wharton County Extension Office will be collecting water samples every Tuesday morning. See attached flyer. Come by the Extension Office in Wharton and pick up a water testing kit. Water test results are provided 5 to 7 days later. If you had a water well that was impacted by flood waters, we highly recommend that you have your water tested for total coliform and fecal coliform bacteria. Wharton County is picking up the cost of the water test.
- Flood damages and repairs made to flooded water wells:
The Wharton County Commissioners Court is accepting applications for the 2017 Well Remediation Disaster Assistance Program. Hurricane Harvey victims living in the non-incorporated areas of Wharton County will be eligible for relief assistance through grants from the LCRA and Radio Station 92.5 FM in Bay City to help with cleaning, testing and repairing of private domestic water wells. Applications can be obtained at the Wharton County Permit Office, or any of the four County Precinct Offices. Forms of assistance include the following areas. Water well test kits and lab results will be issued and completed at no cost. Water well testing will be reimbursed at 100% up to a total of $20 per family. Chlorination of wells will be reimbursed at 100% up to a total of $300 per family. 50% reimbursement for well repairs up to a total of $2000 per immediate family for domestic wells located in non-incorporated flooded areas of Wharton County. No more than $2000 reimbursement on any one well. Reimbursements will be offered only as long as these specific funds are available.
Reimbursement Guidelines:
Well owner must first provide a receipt of payment issued by a licensed accredited well service company. Water well must be for domestic use only and be located within the non-incorporated areas of Wharton County. One well per immediate family. Wharton County will only be offering this assistance program from October 16, 2017 through November 16, 2017.
Reimbursement Process:
Well owner must present a time-stamped payment receipt to the Wharton County Permit Office or Wharton County Extension Office located at 315 E. Milam, Wharton, Texas. Submitted applications will be reviewed individually and eligibility of expenses will be determined on a case-by-case basis. The Wharton County Commissioners Court must approve each reimbursement at the next scheduled meeting. Once approved, the Wharton County Treasurer will issue the well owner a reimbursement check. All expenses must be paid by the well owner before a reimbursement will be provided.
Applications must be complete and have all required documentation to be considered. Wharton County reserves the right to request additional information or documentation to determine eligibility. Applications missing documentation or otherwise deemed incomplete will not be considered for funding until sufficient information has been received. Wharton County reserves the right to deny applications if the applicant is unable to provide required documentation within the deadline provided by Wharton County when requesting the information. All determinations regarding eligibility of expenses and funding amounts are final. Well owners must have their work completed and receipts turned in by the November 16, 2017 deadline.
Corrie Bowen, MS
County Extension Agent – Agriculture/Natural Resources
Wharton County
315 E. Milam, Suite 112
Wharton, Texas 77488
(979) 532-3310
