Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust Receives $2,000,000 Grant for Wastewater System Improvements from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY –The Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust (Trust) received approval for $2,000,000 in funding 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 the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program.
The Trust is undertaking a significant upgrade to the North Canadian Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), the largest facility of its kind serving Oklahoma City. The plant’s infrastructure includes several key structures that have reached the end of their useful life and require modernization. This project will focus on replacing influent conveyance systems, rehabilitating primary and secondary clarifiers, and upgrading electrical systems, along with all necessary appurtenances. These improvements are vital for maintaining the plant’s efficiency and ensuring long-term service reliability for the community. The total estimated project cost is $56,317,845.00, funded by a $2,000,000.00 ARPA Grant and a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the system’s customers will save an estimated $3,050,600 compared to traditional financing.
“We are grateful to Oklahoma Legislators from the Oklahoma City area for their continued support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.
The ARPA grant program is administered by the OWRB with funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and appropriated through the 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 $7.5 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
