El Reno Municipal Authority receives $5,000,000 loan from the OWRB for water system improvements

OKLAHOMA CITY – El Reno Municipal Authority (Authority) received approval for a $5,000,000 Financial Assistance Program (FAP) loan Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve its water infrastructure.   

The Authority needs additional water supply and water lines replaced. These proceeds will be used to lay approximately 19,705 feet of new water line, replace five (5) existing water mains in the system, and for the construction of three (3) new water wells in the existing Burris Well Field.

According to Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $871,800 over the life of the 20-year loan compared to traditional financing. The loan shall be secured with a lien on the revenues of the Authority’s water and sewer systems and a one (1) cent sales tax. El Reno’s City Manager, Matt Sandidge, stated, “Our system has several lines which need to be replaced and this will allow us to do that. We thank OWRB for its consideration.”

Since 1983, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board has approved over $6.4 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.         

“We are grateful to Senator Lonnie Paxton, Representative Nick Archer, and Representative Rhonda Baker for their support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.   

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Contact: 
Joe Freeman 
Oklahoma Water Resources Board 
(405) 530-8800 
Joe.Freeman@owrb.ok.gov