TIVERTON — Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank (RIIB) has announced $350,000 in financing to support drinking water improvements at the Four Seasons Mobile Home Cooperative Association in Tiverton.

Burdened by years of malfunctions, the community’s water system, thought to be at least 40 years old, some of it much older, was at its most vulnerable during extreme weather events.

Four Seasons will install an entirely new distribution system, pump house and back-up generator. Upgrading the drinking water system will prevent water lines from freezing during the winter which has happened frequently over the past winters.

“These system improvements enhance the system’s future functionality, reliability and resiliency. Residents no longer have to choose between their own personal safety and running water,” an RIIB spokesman said.

The project is designed to be constructed in such a way that water service will be maintained to community residents during the project. It is expected that short-term (2-4 hours) temporary shut-off of individual units will occur when house connections are being made however such service disruption will be made with prior notification of residents to minimize disruption. A community meeting was held on February 21o review the construction work, scope and schedule with residents.

“Working with the Infrastructure Bank to upgrade our co-op’s water system has truly been a pleasure. Without the bank’s principal forgiveness loan, we never would have been able to secure adequate funding to complete this vital project,” said Nancy Brayton, president of the Four Seasons Mobile Home Cooperative Association.

“The Four Seasons community is primarily retirees on fixed incomes, which limits our ability to invest in and modernize our utility systems. The Bank’s borrower friendly terms and technical expertise ensured that we could afford to implement resilient and sustainable improvements.”

“The Infrastructure Bank is committed to financing projects that bring clean water to residents. To date, we have invested nearly $500 million in small and large drinking water projects in communities across Rhode Island,” said Jeffrey Diehl, CEO of Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank. “We are excited to help the Four Seasons community make long-term improvements to their drinking water system.”

Financing was made possible through the Infrastructure Bank’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF).