Clarita-Olney Rural Water District, Coal County Receives $315,970 Water Loan with 100% Principal Forgiveness from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Clarita-Olney Rural Water District, Coal County (District) received approval for a $350,000 loan with 100% principal forgiveness on Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the District’s water infrastructure. Construction of upgrades and improvements to the water system will be financed by the Oklahoma Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF).
The District operates a water system that serves the community in Coal County. Currently, the system relies on outdated manual-read meters and lacks the technology to quickly detect issues such as pipe or pump failures, which can result in significant water loss and low tank levels. This project will replace antiquated meters and upgrade the system with modern monitoring technology, including automated controls and remote telemetry, to track pump operations and standpipe water levels in real time. These improvements will strengthen system efficiency, reduce water loss, and ensure the District can continue providing adequate pressure and dependable service to its residents.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the District’s customers will save an estimated $524,700 compared to traditional financing.
“Upgrading to modern meter technology will save taxpayer dollars, increase efficiency, and give residents more reliable service. These improvements are a smart investment in the future of our community’s water system,” said Sen. Jerry Alvord, R-Wilson.
"This investment is great news for the Clarita-Olney Rural Water District and the families it serves,” said Rep. Ryan Eaves, R-Atoka. “Upgrading to modern meter reading and telemetry technology will improve efficiency, reliability, and service for customers while helping the district better manage its resources. I appreciate the support of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board in making this important project possible."
Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB, and Rob Singletary, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ), express their sincere appreciation to State Senator Jerry Alvord and State Representatives David Smith and Ryan Eaves for their support of the DWSRF program.
The DWSRF program is administered by the OWRB and ODEQ with partial funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The DWSRF program has provided approximately $2.4 billion in drinking water loans to provide communities with 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 $8.3 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
