The Arapaho Public Works Authority Receives $285,000 Wastewater System Loan with 100% Principal Forgiveness from the OWRB

OKLAHOMA CITY –  The Arapaho Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for a $285,000 loan with 100% principal forgiveness 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 Oklahoma Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).

The Authority has been experiencing inflow and infiltration (I/I) in their collection system. The approved funds will support a system-wide sanitary system evaluation survey (SSES) along with the planning, design, and engineering needed for recommended improvements. These upgrades aim to reduce or eliminate system bypasses and minimize unintended flows to the wastewater treatment plant.

Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s  customers will save an estimated $367,300 compared to traditional financing.

“We are grateful to State Senator Darcy Jech and State Representative Anthony Moore 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 $7.5 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.