The Pittsburg County Water Authority Receives $500,000 Grant for Water System Improvements

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Pittsburg County Water Authority (Authority) received approval for $500,000 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 along with local funds of $500,000.

The Authority is committed to upgrading its aging water treatment plant (WTP). The proceeds will be used to enhance the raw water intake structure and pumps, improve aeration in the storage tanks, rehabilitate the plant, and replace approximately 5,000 linear feet of PVC water line. These upgrades will significantly improve the efficiency and reliability of the WTP.

Joe Freeman, Chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $774,900 compared to traditional financing.

“We are grateful to State Senator Warren Hamilton and State Representatives David Smith and Jim Grego 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 $7.4 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.