Ochelata Utilities Authority receives $999,331 grant for system improvements
OKLAHOMA CITY –The Ochelata Utilities Authority (Authority) received approval for $999,331 in funding Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s infrastructure. Construction of upgrades and improvements to the water and wastewater system will be financed by the Oklahoma American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program.
The Authority owns and operates a wastewater treatment plant and water distribution system. The wastewater system must either reduce inflow and infiltration (I&I) or increase the capacity at the treatment facility. Also, the Authority has a need for increased fire protection. These proceeds will be used to replace approximately 5,300 linear feet of 8-inch sewer line, improve system hydraulics and provide additional fire protection by replacing approximately 2,650 linear feet of 8-inch water line along Ochelata Street between Sprawl Avenue and South Street.
Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,538,500 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 with the financial resources necessary to address water and wastewater infrastructure needs within their systems. Since 1983 the 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 Senator Julie Daniels and State Representative Judd Strom 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
