Okmulgee County Rural Water District No. 4 Receives $73,327 Water System Loan with Principal Forgiveness from the OWRB

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Okmulgee County Rural Water District No. 4 (District) received approval for a $73,327 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 distribution system and is undertaking improvements to enhance reliability and system performance. The project includes the installation and replacement of approximately 13,000 linear feet of water line using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) piping, along with sections of steel casing. These upgrades will remove system bottlenecks, increase pipe capacity, and reduce “head loss,” a term that refers to reduced water pressure caused by undersized or aging pipelines. Replacing deteriorated infrastructure will also reduce the risk of leaks and breaks that can disrupt service or impact water quality. This project will improve pressure stability, strengthen system reliability, and provide a safer and more consistent water supply for residents and businesses throughout the District.

Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the District’s customers will save an estimated $129,227 when compared to traditional financing.

“I’m pleased the Oklahoma Water Resources Board has awarded funding to the Okmulgee County Rural Water District No. 4 to make upgrades to aging pipes and replace unreliable infrastructure,” said Senator Bryan Logan, R-Paden. “Line breaks and leaks caused by aging pipes can lead to expensive disturbances and interfere with regular operations of both residents and businesses. These improvements are necessary to ensure these rural communities have ongoing access to safe drinking water.”

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 Bryan Logan, State Representative Chris Banning and State Representative Scott Fetgatter 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.