Mill Creek Public Works Authority receives $387,375 grant for system improvements
OKLAHOMA CITY –The Mill Creek Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for $387,375 in funding 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 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program along with $371,880 in Chickasaw Tribal matching funds and $563,000 from Indian Health Services.
The Authority owns and operates a public water supply system which is experiencing deficiencies with its water wells. This creates a challenge in meeting system needs during peak demand periods. These proceed will be used to upgrade the electrical of three (3) wells, add generators, and an automatic transfer switch. Additionally, this project includes the drilling of a new well, the installation of a new SCADA, to include new computers to monitor the wells, and for the installation of a metered connection with Johnston County Rural Water District No. 3.
Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $610,800 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 with the financial resources necessary to address water and wastewater infrastructure needs within their systems. Since 1983 the Water Resources Board has approved over $7.1 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
“We are grateful to State Senators Jerry Alvord and State Representative Charles McCall 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
