Langston Public Works Authority Receives $950,000 Water System Loan with Principal Forgiveness from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Langston Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for a $950,000 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 surface water treatment plant that is set for a critical infrastructure upgrade. The proposed project includes rehabilitating two clarifiers and two filtration units, alongside the replacement of outdated valves and filter media. This initiative replaces equipment that has reached the end of its useful life, ensuring the continued, reliable operation of the water system for the community. By modernizing these processes, the project ensures that the plant will continue to meet surface water quality standards and maintain full regulatory compliance, directly safeguarding public health.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,512,200 when compared to traditional financing.
“This is a major investment in Langston’s water infrastructure that might not be possible without this loan program,” said Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry. “The Legislature has seen how successful low-interest financing programs like the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund have been in helping communities tackle important infrastructure projects. That’s why we made a significant investment this year to create a similar program with new funding that will provide low-cost loans for municipalities across the state to address their water needs."
"I am pleased our district was granted to see these investments, which will allow safe, reliable drinking water for our community,” said Representative Molly Jenkins, R-Coyle. “By upgrading aging infrastructure in Langston and rehabilitating existing clarifiers, we are helping protect ratepayers while making sure families, farmers and businesses have dependable water service for years to come."
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 Chuck Hall and State Representative Molly Jenkins 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.
