The Sardis Lake Water Authority receives $3,292,500 grant for system improvements
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Sardis Lake Water Authority (Authority) received approval for $3,292,500 in funding Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s water infrastructure. The first request was for $2,896,500 along with $6,481,350 in Choctaw Nation matching funds and a second request totaling $396,000 with $396,000 in Choctaw Nation matching funds. All upgrades and improvements to the water system will be financed by the Oklahoma American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program.
The Authority owns and operates a water treatment plant (WTP) which furnishes water to Pushmataha, Latimer, Atoka, and Pittsburg County. The first request's proceeds will be used to rehabilitate the water treatment plant with a new water intake structure, plant building, filters, chemical feed, and electrical work.
The second request’s proceeds will target unmet construction standards on the Gilley Hill standpipe. The proposed project is to replace the Gilley Hill standpipe, install SCADA, telemetry, and controls to the standpipe, and provide backup power to the Wildwood Pump Station.
Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $4,390,300 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 George Burns, State Senator David Ballard, and State Representative Justin Humphrey for their continued support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.
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Contact:
Joe Freeman
Oklahoma Water Resources Board
(405) 530-8800
Joe.Freeman@owrb.ok.gov
