Snyder Public Works Authority Receives $5,298,761 Water System Loan with Principal Forgiveness from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Snyder Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for a $5,298,761 loan with $1,200,000 in 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 system and is undertaking significant upgrades to its water treatment and distribution infrastructure to improve water quality and system performance. The project includes new treatment equipment and chemical feed systems, modernization of plant controls and monitoring equipment, construction of a new laboratory and office building, electrical improvements, and the replacement of 625 aging water meters with Automated Meter Reading (AMR) technology. These improvements will help the Authority restore compliance with federal drinking water standards related to disinfection byproducts, while providing more accurate monitoring of water use throughout the system. The project will also improve operational efficiency and strengthen the reliability of drinking water service for residents and businesses throughout the community.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $4,047,000 when compared to traditional financing. The DWSRF loan will be secured with a lien on the revenues of the Authority’s water, sewer, and sanitation services.
The Snyder Public Works Authority’s officials attending the OWRB’s monthly meeting in support of the loan application included City Clerk Penny Ray. “It is an honor to be here today to represent Synder,” said Ray. “Our water plant was originally constructed in the 70s. We have been band-aiding it for decades ever since then. We are excited to finally have a DEQ plan that is approved and on the table, ready to make some improvements to our water quality.”
"Small towns like Snyder face many of the same infrastructure challenges as larger cities, but with far fewer resources to address them,” said Representative Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus. “Projects like this provide communities the opportunity to make critical investments in public safety, water quality, and system reliability while keeping costs manageable for local families. I am grateful for the partnership between the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and the Snyder Public Works Authority to help ensure residents have access to safe drinking water and a dependable water system 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 Brent Howard, State Representative Trey Caldwell and State Representative Gerrid Kendrix 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.
