Muskogee County Rural Water District No. 1 receives $999,000 loan from the OWRB for water system improvements

OKLAHOMA CITY – Muskogee County Rural Water District No. 1 (District) received approval for a $999,000 Financial Assistance Program (FAP) loan Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve their water infrastructure.   

The District purchases water from the City of Muskogee and is experiencing low pressure and inadequate water volume to some of its customers as the hydraulic grade is not able to fill their three storage tanks. To correct the problem the District proposes to remove or abandon two water storage tanks with the lowest elevation and install a booster pump station.     

According to Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, the District’s customers will save an estimated $268,700 over the life of the 31-year loan compared to traditional financing. The loan shall be secured with a lien on the revenues of the District’s water system and a mortgage. The District’s Vice Chairman, Justen Mullen, stated, “On behalf of the District Board, we thank OWRB for helping our customers to improve the very low water pressure in our system.”     

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 Dewayne Pemberton and Representative Neil Hays 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