Garfield County Rural Water and Sewer District No. 5 Receives $800,000 in Water System Funding from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Rural Water and Sewer District No. 5, Garfield County, Oklahoma (District) received approval for $800,000 in funding, including 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 is moving forward with plans to enhance its water supply system through the construction of a new water well and well house. The proposed project includes drilling a new well and constructing a well house equipped with essential components such as electrical and telemetry systems for real-time monitoring, chlorination equipment to ensure safe drinking water, and a backup power system that includes a generator, propane tank, and automatic transfer switch to maintain operations during power outages. These upgrades will increase system capacity, improve operational efficiency, and enhance water quality by providing a more secure and consistent water source, especially during periods of increased water demand.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the District’s customers will save an estimated $1,260,500 compared to traditional financing.
"This project represents a major investment in the future of Garfield County's water infrastructure,” said Sen. Roland Pederson, R-Burlington. “With the approval of $800,000 in funding from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, we are taking the critical step of drilling a new water well and building the necessary infrastructure to ensure safe, reliable water access for our communities. I am proud to support this initiative that will strengthen the foundation of Garfield County’s water supply for generations to come."
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 Roland Pederson and State Representative Mike Dobrinski 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 $7.9 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
