Ringling Municipal Authority Receives $531,050 Water System Funding from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Ringling Municipal Authority (Authority) received approval for a $531,050 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 water system and will use the funding to rehabilitate their aging water storage tank, which is currently in poor condition. The project includes repairing the tank bowl, removing and recoating the interior and exterior surfaces, and applying protective coatings to the tank supports. These improvements will extend the tank’s service life, will strengthen system performance and support long-term community needs.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,141,200 when compared to traditional financing.
"I am grateful that our district was selected to receive this funding to address a critical infrastructure need in Ringling," Rep. Stacy Jo Adams, R-Duncan said. "Being chosen for this assistance recognizes the importance of investing in rural communities and ensuring they have safe, dependable drinking water. This project will not only help modernize an aging storage tank but will also provide long-term benefits for residents while easing the financial strain on the local community."
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 Spencer Kern and State Representative Stacy Jo Adams 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 $2.4 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.
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Contacts:
Lori Johnson
Oklahoma Water Resources Board
Chief, Financial Assistance Division
(405) 530-8800
Lori.Johnson@owrb.ok.gov
Isaac Cornelson
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
(405) 702-8104
Isaac.Cornelson@deq.ok.gov