The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) announced last week that it approved grants for three local water districts to help improve their water systems.
The recipient of the money includes McIntosh County Rural Water District No. 13, which will receive $800,000. The Town of Canadian in northern Pittsburg County will receive $1 million and the Town of Crowder, also in northern Pittsburg County, will receive $1 million.
Rural Water District No. 13 This area is based in Henryetta, but also serves customers in parts of northwest Mc-Intosh County.
The OWRB said the money will be used to improve the District’s water infrastructure. Construction of upgrades and improvements to the water system will be financed by a 100% principal forgiveness loan through the Oklahoma Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF).
The District will utilize these proceeds to replace water meters with a remote meter reading system, install generators and auto transfer switches at the water plant and at the Carson booster pump station, make improvements to the water plant’s clear well, to two standpipes and two storage tanks. These improvements will reduce water loss by more accurately measuring water sold to system customers and safeguard water quality through upgrades at the clear well and storage tanks in the distribution system.
Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the District’s customers will save an estimated $1,219,700 compared to traditional financing.
Canadian Construction of upgrades and improvements to the wastewater system in Canadian will be financed by the Oklahoma American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program.
The town owns and operates a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and collection system serving the residents of Canadian. These proceeds will be used to address the system’s inflow and infiltration concerns by replacing 9,500 linear feet of sewer main and 20 manholes, in addition to other improvements at the WWTP.
This project will reduce unintended flows to the wastewater treatment facility and prevent unpermitted discharges from wet weather.
Freeman said the Town’s customers will save an estimated $1,553,200 compared to traditional financing.
Crowder Crowder also will receive an ARPA grant, administered by the OWRB, for its wastewater infrastructure.
The funds also will address the system’s inflow and infiltration concerns by replacing 10,500 linear feet of 8-inch sewer main and 27 sewer manholes. This project will reduce unintended flows to the wastewater treatment facility and prevent unpermitted discharges from wet weather.
Freeman says the town’s customers will save an estimated $1,553,200.
ARPA Grand Program The ARPA grant program is administered by the OWRB with funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and appropriated through the Water and Wastewater American Rescue Plan Act grants program. This OWRB program has been structured to provide communities and other eligible entities with the financial resources necessary to address water and wastewater infrastructure needs within their systems.
Since 1983 the Water Resources Board has approved over $7.3 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
“We are grateful to State Senator Warren Hamilton and State Representative Jim Grego for their continued support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.
