Tupelo Public Works Authority Receives $99,999 Grant for Wastewater System Improvements from the OWRB

OKLAHOMA CITY – Tupelo Public Works Authority (Authority) in Coal County received approval for a $99,999 Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) grant on Tuesday through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s Wastewater infrastructure.

The Authority operates a wastewater treatment system that has experienced operational and infrastructure challenges affecting treatment performance and monitoring capabilities. To restore full regulatory compliance and improve system reliability, the Authority will replace outdated electrical and control panels, upgrade the alarm system, and install a new backup generator transfer switch to ensure the facility can continue operating during power disruptions. The project also includes a sanitary sewer evaluation study to assess the condition of the community’s sewer collection system and identify areas needing repair or improvement. These upgrades will strengthen system monitoring, enhance operational safety, and help prevent partially treated wastewater from being released. The $104,999 project will be funded through a $99,999 OWRB REAP grant and $5,000 in local funds.

Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB's Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the grant will save the Authority’s customers $179,400 in principal and interest charges by not having to borrow the project funds.

“We are grateful to Senator Jerry Alvord and Representative David Smith 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 $8.3 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.