The Guymon Utilities Authority receives $675,150 grant for system improvements

OKLAHOMA CITY –The Guymon Utilities Authority (Authority) received approval for $675,150 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 Oklahoma American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program along with $870,950 in local funds.                 

The Authority owns and operates a water system which serves the city of Guymon. The Ogallala Aquifer is the Authority's main water source and has lost capacity due to drier conditions in the area. These proceeds will be used to drill seven test wells to determine viability of the sites as permanent well locations.

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,044,200 compared to traditional financing.

The ARPA grant program is administered by the OWRB with funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and appropriated through the Water and Wastewater 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 $7.1 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.

“We are grateful to State Senator Casey Murdock and State Representative Kenton Patzkowsky for their continued support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.

Senator Murdock stated, “I appreciate our partners at OWRB for addressing the current needs of the Guymon community and approving funding for this project that will ensure the area’s agricultural, industrial, and residential water needs are met for years to come. Northwestern Oklahoma is no stranger to dry conditions, so as the capacity of our aquifer has been reduced, it will take innovative projects such as this one to find viable well locations to sustain our water supply. This is an excellent use of available ARPA funds and grants that will directly benefit the people and infrastructure in our area.”

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Contact:
Joe Freeman
Oklahoma Water Resources Board
(405) 530-8800
Joe.Freeman@owrb.ok.gov