BOONES MILL -- Town residents will soon welcome clean water from their faucets thanks to stimulus funds announced this week.

The town has received about $3.3 million from the state Department of Health's Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund, Town Manger Lynn Frith said. The money originated from the federal stimulus package and is being dispersed by the state.

A new filtration plant, electric water meters, security fencing around the town's water operation and the replacement of waterlines are some of the projects the money will help complete.

"This means all water will be clean at all times," Frith said.

This also means that all nonoperational fire hydrants on the east side of U.S. 220 through the small town can be used again after the waterlines servicing them are upgraded. And the town's third water well will be upgraded and added to the operation. Frith estimates that contractors will finish the projects by November 2011.

This is the town's second attempt at a grant to finance water system upgrades. Its $2.8 million Community Development Block Grant request went unanswered in 2003 because it didn't meet income qualifications.

The town council welcomed the news Tuesday, with Councilman Doug Parsons pointing out that the grant is equivalent to 14 years of town revenue.

While the grant is a little short of the $5 million requested, it is sure to get the town out of hot water with the health department.

The town was issued and has continued to operate under a consent order from the health department for the past six years because of unclean water.

None of the stimulus funds will be used for the town's ongoing efforts to bottle its spring water, but some of the money will be used to build two stainless steel tanks for the spring water.

Mayor Ben Flora used the announcement to make a point about Frith's usefulness to the town, something questioned by some residents over the years.

"He did all the work on this," Flora said. "He is invaluable. He's the only reason this town still exists, in my opinion."

Frith also serves as the town's chief of police and head of the water department.

There were five other requests out of Franklin County, one from the Ferrum Water and Sewerage Authority and four from the county, but Boones Mill was the only locality awarded any money.

The Western Virginia Water Authority received funds for two waterline replacement projects on Rorer Avenue and Rugby Boulevard, both in Roanoke.