Rural Water, Sewer, and Solid Waste Management District No. 3, Johnston County, Oklahoma Receives $2,018,000 Water System Funding from the OWRB
The Rural Water, Sewer, and Solid Waste Management District No. 3, Johnston County, Oklahoma (District) received approval for $2,018,000 in funding Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) including $950,000 in loan forgiveness to improve the District’s Water infrastructure. Construction of upgrades and improvements to the water system will be financed by the Oklahoma Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF).
The District will use the proceeds to construct 13,319 linear feet of 10-inch PVC distribution waterline along State Highway 1 in Johnston County, Oklahoma. This project is designed to enhance water pressure within the system and ensure reliable delivery of safe, potable water to customers in the area.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the District’s customers will save an estimated $2,636,900 over the life of the 30-year loan compared to traditional financing. The DWSRF loan will be secured with a lien on the revenues of the District’s water revenues and may include a mortgage on their water system.
Rural Water, Sewer, and Solid Waste Management District No. 3, Johnston County, Oklahoma officials attending the OWRB’s monthly meeting in support of the loan application included District Manager Marlon Sullivan and Board Chairman Terry Hutchins. “This is our first time here, and we appreciate your consideration,” said Mr. Sullivan. “Our system dates back to the 1970s and was originally built to last only a few years. Being one of the largest counties in Oklahoma, with active rock quarries, the line’s location near these quarries has led to constant maintenance issues. We’re eager to use these funds to replace the line and improve our system.”
Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB, and Rob Singletary, Executive Director of the ODEQ, express their sincere appreciation to State Senators David Bullard and Jerry Alvord and State Representative Ryan Eaves for their support of the DWSRF program.
The DWSRF program is administered by the OWRB and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) with partial funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The DWSRF program hasprovided approximately $2.4 billion in drinking water 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 $7.7 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
