Carnegie Public Works Authority Receives $800,000 Water System Loan with Principal Forgiveness from the OWRB

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Carnegie Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for an $800,000 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 operates a public water distribution system and is undertaking improvements to modernize aging infrastructure and enhance system reliability. The proposed project includes replacing approximately 1,315 feet of water line along Main Street, constructing a new booster pump station, and installing a new chemical feed station that helps ensure water is properly treated before delivery to customers. The project will also include upgrades to the SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system, which allows operators to monitor and manage the water system more efficiently. These improvements will reduce water loss from aging pipes, improve the reliability of treated drinking water, and strengthen service for residents and businesses throughout the community.

Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,259,000 when compared to traditional financing.

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 Darcy Jech, State Senator Brent Howard and State Representative Toni Hasenbeck 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 $2.5 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 $8.7 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.