Enid Municipal Authority receives $2,000,000 grant for system improvements

OKLAHOMA CITY –The Enid Municipal Authority (Authority) received approval for $2,000,000 in funding Thursday 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 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program along with $3,186,000 in local funds.   

The Authority owns and operates a water distribution system which includes a 30-inch raw water transmission line. The line is at the end of its life expectancy and is exposed at two creek crossings. The Authority will utilize these proceeds to lower the pipe depth at the two creek crossing to allow it to pass beneath the creek and to replace a 24-inch butterfly valve.  

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $3,278,200 compared to traditional financing.  

The ARPA grant program is administered by the OWRB with funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and appropriated through the Water and Wastewater American Rescue Plan Act grants program. This OWRB program has been structured to provide communities and other eligible entities financial resources necessary to address water and wastewater infrastructure needs within their systems. Since 1983 the Water Resources Board has approved over $7.0 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.  

“We are grateful to State Senator Roland Pederson and State Representative Chad Caldwell for their continued 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