Commerce Development Authority Receives $670,000 Wastewater System Loan from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Commerce Development Authority (Authority) received approval for a $670,000 loan on Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s wastewater infrastructure. Construction of upgrades and improvements to the wastewater system will be financed by the Oklahoma Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).
The Authority owns and operates a public water distribution system and a sewer collection system. Many of the system’s existing water meters have exceeded their useful life, resulting in slippage and slow registration, while also contributing to approximately 25% system-wide water loss. The approved project will replace approximately 950 outdated manual-read meters with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) technology, which allows for more accurate and efficient water usage monitoring and leak detection. These upgrades will help reduce water loss, improve operational efficiency, reduce unintended flows to the wastewater treatment plant, protect local water resources, and strengthen the long-term water system reliability for residents and businesses throughout the service area.
Water meters are eligible for funding through the CWSRF as water efficiency and conservation projects. By accurately measuring water use and helping reduce unnecessary consumption, metering systems can decrease the volume of wastewater requiring treatment, lowering energy demands and helping communities maximize existing treatment capacity.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $210,500 when compared to traditional financing. The CWSRF loan will be secured with a lien on the revenues of the Authority’s water and sewer services, 2 cents sales and use tax, and will include a mortgage on the water and sewer systems.
Attending the OWRB’s monthly meeting on behalf of the Authority in support of the loan application included Jon Wolff, financial advisor with Municipal Finance Services, Inc.
“Replacing leak-prone infrastructure will help prevent significant water loss along water main lines in Commerce, while also improving access to safe water for residents,” said Senator Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair. “This project will ensure reliable access to water for the community and secure the local water supply, so it is not vulnerable to leaks. I appreciate the Commerce Development Authority for addressing these ongoing water loss issues and recognizing the need for improving infrastructure in this community.”
“We are grateful to State Senator Micheal Bergstrom and State Representative Steve Bashore for their support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.
The CWSRF program is administered by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board with partial funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The CWSRF program has provided approximately $2.9 billion in water quality 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.
