OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Conservation Commission (Commission) received approval for a $300,000 loan Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to address a nonpoint source concern of septic systems identified across the state. Construction of upgrades and improvements will be financed by a 100% principal forgiveness loan through the Oklahoma Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) along with $40,000 in alternate funding.
The Commission has identified several septic systems that have issues with discharge of sewage to the surface or have been inundated by flood waters. These systems have been identified as a nonpoint source contaminant and water quality concerns by the OCC. The purpose of the project is to replace the current septic systems with aerobic systems or to remove the septic system and connect to a public wastewater treatment system when feasible. Replacing failing septic systems helps protect groundwater from contamination, ultimately protecting local streams, rivers, and lakes.
Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Commission’s customers will save an estimated $478,600 compared to traditional financing.
The CWSRF program is administered by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board with partial funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The CWSRF program has provided approximately $2.4 billion in water quality loans to provide communities 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 $6.5 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
“We are grateful to State Legislators from across Oklahoma 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
