Town of Braman Receives $150,000 Grant for Water System Improvements from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Town of Braman (Town) in Kay County received approval for a $150,000 Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) grant on Tuesday through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Town’s water infrastructure.
The Town's public water system is comprised of corroded cast iron pipes that are over 50 years old. Due to the corrosion and frequent line breaks, the Town is experiencing costly water loss. The proposed project will replace approximately 700 linear feet of main water line to improve the delivery of treated water. The funding will also be used to upgrade the hydrants and valves, rehabilitate select service connections and all appurtenances required to complete the project. The estimated cost of the project is $303,700 which will be funded by the OWRB REAP grant in the amount of $150,000 and $153,700 from the Northern Oklahoma Development Authority (NODA) REAP grant.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB's Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the grant will save the Authority’s customers $243,700 in principal and interest charges by not having to borrow the project funds.
“Replacing leak-prone infrastructure will help prevent the loss of treated water, improve water pressure and ensure residents of Braman will continue to have access to clean, safe water,” said Senator Roland Pederson, R-Burlington. “With the support of the OWRB REAP grant, the town can address these ongoing issues and make significant improvements to its infrastructure. This is a critical investment in the long-term health and sustainability of the Braman community.”
"This funding is crucial to ensure the residents of the Town of Braman maintain access to treated water,” said Representative John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando. “I'm thankful for the Board's consideration of the importance of clean water for this community."
“We are grateful to Senator Roland Pederson 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 $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.
