Fort Cobb Public Works Authority Receives $143,457 Grant for Water System Improvements from the OWRB

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Fort Cobb Public Works Authority (Authority) in Caddo County received approval for a $143,457 Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) grant on Tuesday through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s water infrastructure.

The Authority operates a water distribution system that is currently experiencing revenue loss due to inaccurate readings from outdated water meters. To improve accuracy and efficiency, the proposed project will install approximately 256 new Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters, which provide real-time usage data and support better leak detection and billing. The upgrades will help reduce water loss, increase operational efficiency, and ensure customers are billed accurately for their usage.

The estimated cost of the project is $143,456.63, which will be funded by the OWRB REAP Grant of $143,456.63.

Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB's Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the grant will save the Authority’s customers $243,500 in principal and interest charges by not having to borrow the project funds.

“We are grateful to Senator Darcy Jech and Representative Toni Hasenbeck for their continued support of water and wastewater infrastructure funding in Oklahoma,” said Julie Cunningham, OWRB Executive Director.

In Fiscal Year 2025, the OWRB funded over 50 projects through its REAP grant program, a 450% increase from the previous year, thanks in part to a $4 million appropriation from the Oklahoma Legislature. To date, the OWRB has awarded more than $73 million in REAP grants, helping small communities statewide save over $130 million in total project costs.

Since 1983 the Water Resources Board has approved over $8.2 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.