Seiling Public Works Authority Receives $683,261 Water System Loan with Principal Forgiveness from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Seiling Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for a $683,261 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 public water distribution system. The funded project will replace 621 aging water meters with modern Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) technology, which allows water usage data to be collected remotely and more accurately. The upgraded system will improve leak detection, reduce water loss, and help ensure the community’s water resources are managed more efficiently. By eliminating the need for manual meter reading, the project will also reduce operating costs and allow utility staff to focus on system maintenance and infrastructure improvements. These enhancements will strengthen long-term water security and support reliable service for residents and businesses throughout the Authority’s service area.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,085,700 compared to traditional financing.
“Investing in new technology helps localities make the most of every drop of local water supplies,” said Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt. “Automated water meters provide more accurate readings, improve efficiency and can help save customers money. This is a smart investment that will benefit hundreds of Seiling residents."
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 Casey Murdock and State Representative Mike Dobrinski 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.
