Waurika Public Works Authority Receives $1,231,250 Water System Loan with $923,437 in Principal Forgiveness from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Waurika Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for a $1,231,250 loan with $923,437.50 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 is undertaking efforts to address water treatment requirements related to surface water treatment including disinfection byproducts (DBP), maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) and total organic carbon (TOC) removal. The proposed project includes constructing a new flow-splitting structure, two solids contact units, three multimedia filters, a new chemical building with chemical injection points for ammonia, chlorine, ferric chloride, polymer, sodium hydroxide and sodium metabisulfite, a new residuals lagoon and all appurtanances required to complete the project. These upgrades will ensure the Authority regains compliance and improves the water quality for residents and businesses in and near the Authority.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $2,476,460 over the life of the 30-year loan compared to traditional financing. The DWSRF loan will be secured with a lien on the Authority’s water, sewer and sanitation revenues and will include a mortgage on the water and sewer systems.
Waurika Public Works Authority’s officials attending the OWRB’s monthly meeting in support of the loan application included City Manager Carlee Ralls and City Clerk Brittany Morris. “I just want to say thank you for the consideration of this application,” said Ralls. “We have struggled over the last five years to try to get this plant off the ground, and the ball is finally rolling and we are very thankful.”
"This loan will provide critical support for the Waurika Public Works Authority as it works to bring its water treatment system into compliance, strengthen water quality and reduce the risk of waterborne illness,” said Rep. Stacy Jo Adams, R-Duncan. “I appreciate the Oklahoma Water Resources Board's support of this project as the Authority works to ensure a more reliable water supply for the community."
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 Spencer Kern and State Representative Stacy Jo Adams 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 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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Contacts:
Lori Johnson
Oklahoma Water Resources Board
Chief, Financial Assistance Division
(405) 530-8800
Lori.Johnson@owrb.ok.gov
Isaac Cornelson
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
(405) 702-8104
Isaac.Cornelson@deq.ok.gov
