Wetumka Municipal Authority Receives $573,948 Water System Loan with Principal Forgiveness from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Wetumka Municipal Authority (Authority) received approval for a $573,948.08 loan with 100% 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 distribution system. The funded project will replace 517 aging water meters with Automated Meter Reading (AMR) technology, which allows water usage to be collected remotely and more accurately, while also rehabilitating and repainting the community’s existing water tower. These improvements will help utility staff identify leaks more quickly, reduce water loss, and improve overall system efficiency. Rehabilitation of the water tower will extend the life of this critical storage facility and help ensure reliable water pressure and emergency water reserves. Together, these upgrades will strengthen the long-term reliability of the water system and support dependable service for residents and businesses throughout the community.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $901,848.08 when compared to traditional financing.
"Communities in our District have some really encouraging news ahead, as new support from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund will make it possible for local water systems to get important upgrades,” said Representative David Smith, R-Arpelar. “These improvements will help keep day‑to‑day operations running more smoothly and give families and businesses greater confidence in the water they depend on. We’re truly thankful for the resources that make this work possible and deeply appreciative of the local teams who show up every day to take care of their neighbors. Their commitment continues to make a real and lasting difference."
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 Jonathan Wingard and State Representative David Smith 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 $8.7 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.
