The Poteau Valley Improvement Authority receives $2,000,000 grant for system improvements

OKLAHOMA CITY –The Poteau Valley Improvement Authority (Authority) received approval for $2,000,000 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 $1,247,000 in LeFlore County American Rescue Plan Act funds, and $2,746,000 from local funds.

The Authority will use these proceeds to construct new backwash stations, a 0.350 MGD clearwell with modified and relocated distribution pumps and Cl2 chemical feed, and a new belt press with sludge feed pumps and polymer feed system.

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $3,276,700 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 $6.9 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.

“We are grateful to State Senator George Burns, State Representative Rick West, and State Representative Eddy Dempsey 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