Breckinridge Public Works Authority Receives $297,410 Water System Funding from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – Breckinridge Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for a $297,410 loan with 100% principal forgiveness on Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s water infrastructure. Construction of upgrades and improvements to the water system will be financed by the Oklahoma Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF).
The Authority's drinking water source is groundwater from wells opperated by the Authority. The groundwater has exceed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) maximum containment level (MCL) for nitrates in recent years. To address these challenges, the proposed project will connect the Authority to the Enid Municipal Authority, as well as purchase water from the Enid Municipal Authority. This project ensures Breckinridge can protect their customers' health and maintain compliance with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality's (ODEQ) drinking water standards.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $475,000 when compared to traditional financing.
"Connecting the Breckinridge Public Works Authority systems to Enid’s water infrastructure will ensure this rural community has access to safe, reliable drinking water,” said Senator Roland Pederson, R-Burlington. “This critical project will help protect public health and keep the district in compliance with state drinking water standards. I appreciate our local partners and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for their support in making this investment project possible."
Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB, and Rob Singletary, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ), express their sincere appreciation to State Senator Roland Pederson and State Representative John Pfeiffer for their support of the DWSRF program.
The DWSRF program is administered by the OWRB and ODEQ with partial funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The DWSRF program has provided approximately $2.4 billion in drinking water loans to provide communities with the resources necessary to maintain and improve the infrastructure that protects our valuable water resources statewide.
Since 1983, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board has approved over $8.6 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.
