South Delaware County Regional Water Authority Receives $3,000,000 Grant for Water System Improvements from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY –The South Delaware County Regional Water Authority (Authority) received approval for $3,000,000 in funding Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s water infrastructure. Construction of upgrades and improvements to the water system will be financed by the OWRB American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program.
The South Delaware County Regional Water Authority is undertaking a critical infrastructure upgrade to support future growth in the region. The project includes improvements to the raw water intake, upgrades to the water treatment plant, expanded distribution storage, and the installation of a new 12-inch transmission line. These upgrades are essential to meet the long-term water needs of the community and ensure reliable service. The $12 million project is funded by a $3 million OWRB ARPA grant and $9 million from Cherokee Nation, ensuring that the system is well-equipped to handle future demand.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $4,635,000.00 compared to traditional financing.
"I am so glad that Delaware County residents will soon see improvements to their water distribution system and treatment plant," Representative David Hardin (R-OK) said. "With this work today, we can ensure that Delaware County is prepared for future long-term growth. I want to thank the South Delaware County Regional Water Authority for their work on this issue and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for approving this grant, as well as our partners in the Cherokee Nation for providing additional funding. I look forward to seeing these improvements take effect."
“We are grateful to State Senators Micheal Bergstrom and Tom Woods and State Representative David Hardin 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 $7.6 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
