Blackwell Municipal Authority Receives $18,840,000 Loan for Water System Improvements from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – Blackwell Municipal Authority (Authority) received approval for an $18,840,000 Financial Assistance Program (FAP) loan on Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve their water infrastructure.
The Authority will rehabilitate and upgrade their water system’s filtration system, including the residuals handling facilities, yard piping and plant hydraulics, electrical and control systems and pumping and process systems, as well as the selective demolition of obsolete facilities, plus all appurtenances and services necessary to complete the project. The rehabilitation will improve treatment process control, increase system redundancy, enhance maintainability and improve the overall reliability and resiliency of the water treatment plant.
According to Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $2,448,000 when compared to traditional financing. The loan shall be secured with a lien on the revenues of the Authority’s water, sewer and sanitation services, a mortgage on the water, sewer, and electric systems, and a 1.5 cents sales tax.
Local officials attending the OWRB’s monthly meeting in support of the loan application included Blackwell’s City Manager Jerry Wieland. “On behalf of the City of Blackwell and its citizens, we greatly appreciate your consideration of this,” said Wieland.
"This project will improve water quality and efficiency for Blackwell residents, which I know is much appreciated," Representative John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando, said. "I'm thankful for the OWRB's attention to this much-needed update."
“We are grateful to State Senator Roland Pederson and State Representative John Pfeiffer for their support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.
Since 1983, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board has approved over $8.75 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
Established in 1957, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) serves as the state’s water resources planning and development agency. A nine-member Board oversees the OWRB, with members appointed by the Governor to represent nine geographic regions and water-use sectors. The OWRB is committed to managing, protecting, and improving Oklahoma’s water resources to meet long-term water supply, water quality, flood mitigation, and infrastructure needs. For more information, visit Oklahoma.gov/owrb.
