The Agriculture Department announced $314 million in grants and loans to 141 projects to improve water and wastewater systems in rural communities. The largest loan was $46 million to North Alamo Water Supply Corp. in Edinburg, in southern Texas, for a water-improvement project. The utility serves 14 public water systems as well as customers of its own from six surface water treatment plants and four reverse osmosis treatment plants. The USDA said $299 million was allotted for 88 projects in the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program and $15 million for 53 grants through the Emergency Community Assistance Grant program.