Carney Public Utilities Authority Receives $99,999 Grant for Wastewater System Improvements from the OWRB

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Carney Public Utilities Authority (Authority) in Lincoln County received approval for a $99,999 Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) grant Tuesday through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s wastewater infrastructure.

The Carney Public Utilities Authority is working to bring its wastewater system into full compliance with Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) standards. The proposed project will focus on rehabilitating the wastewater system, including upgrades to outdated lines, manholes, and associated components necessary for completing the improvements. The estimated cost of the project is $99,999.00, which will be fully funded by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) through a REAP grant of $99,999.00.

Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB's Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the grant will save the Authority’s customers $188,600 in principal and interest charges by not having to borrow the project funds.

“We are grateful to Senator Grant Green and Representative Jim Shaw for their continued support of water and wastewater infrastructure funding in Oklahoma,” said Julie Cunningham, OWRB Executive Director.

Since 1983 the Water Resources Board has approved over $7.7 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.