Pawnee Public Works Authority Receives $402,500 Wastewater System Loan from OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Pawnee Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for a $402,500 loan Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s wastewater infrastructure. The planning and design for 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 owns and operates a sanitary sewer system that has been experiencing inflow and infiltration (I/I) in their collection system and needs improvements. The funds will be used for a system-wide sanitary system evaluation survey (SSES) and the planning, design, and engineering required for the recommended improvements. Improvements to the collection system would reduce or eliminate bypasses and 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 $522,600 compared to traditional financing.
"I'm thrilled to see the Pawnee Public Works Authority receive funding for its infrastructure improvement project," Rep. Ty Burns said. "Investing in our communities today is crucial to the well-being of our residents tomorrow. I am grateful for the Oklahoma Water Resources Board's dedication to improving infrastructure across the state."
“I appreciate the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for providing Pawnee financial assistance to undertake significant water and sewer upgrades,” said Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry.
“We are grateful to State Senator Chuck Hall and State Representative Ty Burns 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.
Since 1983, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board has approved over $7.4 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
