Tonkawa Municipal Authority Receives $300,000 Emergency Grant for Water System Repairs from the OWRB

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Tonkawa Municipal Authority (Authority) in Kay County received approval for a $300,000 Emergency Grant on Tuesday through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to repair the Authority’s water infrastructure.

The Authority operates a water system serving the City of Tonkawa. Following the flooding in June 2026, the Authority is undertaking corrective measures to address contaminants and restore affected infrastructure. The system sustained significant damage to eight well houses, including Well No. 9, the primary water supply for the City, which was taken offline due to the damage from the floods. The proposed project will clean and sanitize the affected well houses, repair flood-related structural damage, and repair or replace cracked and damaged well casings and concrete, along with associated appurtenances. These improvements will help restore well operations and support a reliable supply of safe drinking water for the community.

Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB's Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the grant will save the Authority’s customers $520,400 in principal and interest charges by not having to borrow the project funds.

“I’m grateful that the Oklahoma Water Resources Board is stepping in to help Tonkawa after severe storms wreaked havoc on the local water system,” said Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City. “This emergency grant will help the Tonkawa Municipal Authority improve the city’s wells, so all residents have clean drinking water."

"This emergency grant will provide critical support for the Tonkawa Municipal Authority as it responds to the damage caused by flooding,” said Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando. “Repairing and sanitizing the affected well houses, along with restoring Well No. 9, will help protect public health and restore a reliable water supply for the residents of Tonkawa."

“We are grateful to Senator Bill Coleman and Representative John Pfeiffer for their continued support of water and wastewater infrastructure funding in Oklahoma,” said Julie Cunningham, OWRB Executive Director.

Since 1983 the Water Resources Board has approved over $9.3 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.

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Contact:

Lori Johnson
Oklahoma Water Resources Board
Chief, Financial Assistance Division
(405) 530-8800
lori.johnson@owrb.ok.gov