Garfield County Rural Water District No. 6 Receives $2,015,000 Loan for Water System Improvements from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Rural Water District No. 6, Garfield County, Oklahoma (District) received approval for a $2,015,000 Financial Assistance Program (FAP) loan on Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve their water infrastructure.
The Authority operates a public water treatment plant and distribution system that is aging and in need of significant rehabilitation to ensure continued reliability for its customers. To address these needs, the Authority plans to replace more than 6,600 feet of the 10-inch Garber Extension waterline, upgrade the Salt Fork Connection with new piping and two master meters, and modernize the Garber Booster Station with a new pump station, backup generator, and updated Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, which provides remote monitoring and control of water infrastructure. The project also includes improvements to existing water wells and the installation of approximately 10,500 feet of new waterline along E. Chestnut. Together, these upgrades will improve system performance, enhance operational resilience, and support long-term service reliability.
According to Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, the District’s customers will save an estimated $501,600 compared to traditional financing. The loan shall be secured with a lien on the revenues of the District’s water service and will include a mortgage on the water system.
Local officials attending the OWRB’s monthly meeting in support of the loan application included District Manager Tyson Burpo. “All of these projects, we would really appreciate the consideration of the Board on,” said Burpo. “We take a long time looking over our projects with our engineer… and they are absolutely paramount for the sustainability of our water system.”
"The Rural Water District No. 6 project is an investment in the health, safety, and future of Garfield County,” said Senator Roland Pederson, R-Burlington. “The over $2 million in critical infrastructure upgrades to this aging system will ensure reliable, high-quality water service for our families and businesses for decades to come. I want to thank the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and our local officials for their support in making this project possible."
“We are grateful to State Senator Roland Pederson and State Representative John Pfeiffer for their support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.
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.
