The South Coffeyville Public Works Authority Receives $1,397,694 Water System Loan with Principal Forgiveness from the OWRB

OKLAHOMA CITY – The South Coffeyville Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for a $1,397,694 loan with $1 million 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 will use the proceeds to strengthen service reliability by replacing and upgrading key components of its distribution network. The project includes installing nearly 4,000 feet of new 10-inch PVC water line beneath existing roadways, rehabilitating an altitude valve vault with Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) improvements, and upgrading an outdated booster pump station with two new pumps and a standby generator to ensure uninterrupted operation during power outages. These improvements will increase system capacity, reduce water loss, and stabilize pressure across the service area. By upgrading aging infrastructure and restoring critical facilities to full function, the project will help the system meet peak demand and improve long-term performance for customers.

Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,245,500 when compared to traditional financing. The DWSRF loan will be secured with a lien on the revenues of the Authority’s  water, sewer, sanitation, and electric services, and a 2 cent sales tax.

The South Coffeyville Public Works Authority’s officials attending the OWRB’s monthly meeting in support of the loan application included Utilities Superintendent Steven Soule. “I want to thank you all for your consideration of the water loan,” said Soule. “We have less than 500 water meters, so this is not something that we could do on our own. I mean, it’s just not possible and I want to thank you all.”

“This important investment will provide additional security to waterline infrastructure and increase the productivity of current water systems,” said Senate Majority Leader Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville. “These upgrades will ensure residents have continued access to clean water at their homes and businesses. By addressing these critical concerns now, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board is safeguarding South Coffeyville's water supply for the foreseeable future." 

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 Julie Daniels and State Representative Judd Strom 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 $8.6 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.