Custer City Public Works Authority Receives $999,999 Wastewater System Loan from OWRB

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Custer City Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for a $999,999 loan Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s wastewater infrastructure.  Construction of upgrades and improvements to the wastewater system will be financed by a 100% principal forgiveness loan through the Oklahoma Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).

The Authority’s sewer collection system is antiquated and experiences periodical sanitary system overflows (SSO). The proceeds will be utilized to replace approximately 3,580 linear feet of 8-inch sewer line and remove eleven existing brick manholes and replace with pre-cast manholes. These improvements to the collection system would reduce or eliminate overflows and help reduce unintended flows to the wastewater treatment plant.

Joe Freeman, Chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,503,299 compared to traditional financing.

“I’m extremely glad this project was approved and received funding to ensure Custer residents have access to clean water and prevent any health concerns related to unsafe water usage,” said Rep. Anthony Moore. “I’m also grateful the OWRB and their leadership in providing for this project to the city without the incredible tax burden it would have been to local taxpayers.”

“We are grateful to State Senator Darcy Jech and State Representative Anthony Moore for their support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.

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 $2.7 billion in water quality loans to provide communities the resources necessary to maintain and improve the infrastructure that protects our valuable water resources statewide.