Rural Water District No. 5, Comanche County, Oklahoma, Inc. Receives $150,000 Grant for Wastewater System Improvements from the OWRB

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rural Water District No. 5, Comanche County, Oklahoma, Inc. (District) in Comanche County received approval for a $150,000 Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) grant Tuesday through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the District’s wastewater infrastructure.

The District operates a wastewater system serving residents in Comanche County, OK. The approved grant funds will be used to purchase and install an advanced evaporative system to increase the freeboard capacity. This upgrade is necessary to mitigate the potential damage and effects of future floods or increased water levels. Funds from this grant will also be used to rebuild and repair the water control and erosion control systems. The total estimated cost of the project is $226,000, funded by an OWRB REAP Grant of $150,000 and local funds totaling $76,000.

Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB's Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the grant will save the District’s customers $234,300 in principal and interest charges by not having to borrow the project funds.

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

Since 1983 the Water Resources Board has approved over $7.5 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.