OKLAHOMA CITY –The Town of Wanette (Town) received approval for $1,000,000 in funding Thursday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Town’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.
The Town owns and operates a water system that is addressing a disinfection byproducts issue caused by undersized, dilapidated water lines. These proceeds will be used to replace approximately 9,450 linear feet of waterlines with new 6-inch PVC pipe. This project will help to meet the public health goals for the state.
Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the City’s customers will save an estimated $1,637,400 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 Shane Jett and State Representative Ronny Johns 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
