Muskogee Municipal Authority receives $82,000,000 loan from the OWRB for wastewater system improvements

OKLAHOMA CITY – Muskogee Municipal Authority (Authority) received approval for a $82,000,000 Financial Assistance Program (FAP) loan Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve their  wastewater infrastructure.

The Authority owns and operates a sanitary sewer collection system and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) that was constructed in the early 1950’s. These proceeds will be used for major improvements to the WWTP, rehabilitation of a sewage pump station, flow equalization basins, and headwork facilities, and to demolish facilities which are no longer in service.

According to Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $20,889,800 over the life of the 30-year loan compared to traditional financing. The loan shall be secured with a lien on the revenues of the Authority’s water and sewer systems and a .50-cent sales tax.

Since 1983, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board has approved over $7.1 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.

“We are grateful to State Legislators from the Muskogee area for their continued support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.

Senator Roger Thompson shared, “As Oklahoma continues to grow and economic opportunities expand, there is a need to improve our water infrastructure. I am thankful to OWRB for their proactive participation in meeting the needs of these communities.” 
 

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Contact:
Joe Freeman
Oklahoma Water Resources Board
(405) 530-8800
Joe.Freeman@owrb.ok.gov