Cherokee County Rural Water, Sewer, Gas and Solid Waste Management District No. 16 Receives $783,379 Water System Loan with Principal Forgiveness from the OWRB

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Cherokee County Rural Water, Sewer, Gas and Solid Waste Management District No. 16 (District) received approval for a $783,379 loan with 100% principal forgiveness on Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the District’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 District operates a public water system and will use the funding to replace aging infrastructure by installing more than 9,000 feet of new high-density polyethylene (HDPE) water lines. These improvements will strengthen the reliability of the distribution system and help ensure consistent water service for customers by reducing frequent repairs and water loss. Overall, the upgrades will enhance long-term system performance and protect the community’s access to safe, dependable drinking water.

Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the District’s customers will save an estimated $1,249,679 when compared to traditional financing.

“This project is a critical investment as it will create a dependable system that will serve Cherokee County for many years to come,” said Senator Tom Woods, R-Westville. “I’m grateful to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for using this funding to support rural communities.”

“These upgrades will support efficient water infrastructure while helping prevent costly disruptions in the future, improving reliability and lowering operational costs. I extend appreciation to OWRB for their continued partnership and commitment to strengthening water infrastructure across our community,” said Sen. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee.

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 Tom Woods, State Senator Avery Frix and State Representative Bob Culver 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 $8.6 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.