Tullahassee Public Works Authority receives $1,153,846 grant for water system improvements
OKLAHOMA CITY –The Tullahassee Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for $1,153,846 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.
The Authority will utilize the proceeds to replace approximately 40,000 linear feet (lf) of 2-inch and 6-inch waterlines and fire hydrants, and to acquire and install Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) water meters with a drive-by system. A portion of this project focuses on water conservation and efficiency by identifying water loss in the Authority’s system. With these improvements, inflow and infiltration will be reduced and could lead to increased water supply reliability through providing the system officials with a better understanding of potential vulnerability.
Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,767,900.00 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 Senate Bill 13 for 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 $6.4 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
"We are grateful to State Senator Blake "Cowboy" Stephens and State Representative Kevin McDugle 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
