LeFlore County Rural Water District No. 17 Receives $55,236 Grant for System Improvements from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rural Water District No. 17 LeFlore County, Oklahoma (District) received approval for $55,236 in funding 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 OWRB American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program.
The District operates a water distribution system that has been experiencing unusually high water losses, up to 80%, due to undetected leaks and the lack of a modern leak detection program. To address these issues and improve system efficiency, the District completed a series of upgrades, including the installation of seven in-ground automatic flush hydrants, thirty-eight gate valves, and multiple leak repairs along its 33-mile waterline network. These improvements enhance water conservation, strengthen system reliability, and help the District better manage long-term operating costs. The total project cost was $255,235.58, funded through a combination of two RIG Grants, local contributions, and a Communities Unlimited loan. Of this amount, $55,235.58 is now eligible for reimbursement through the OWRB ARPA Grant.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the District’s customers will save an estimated $103,300.00 compared to traditional financing.
"This ARPA grant will help Rural Water District No. 17 address water loss and improve the reliability of their system,” said Senator George Burns, R-Pollard. “These critical upgrades ensure residents have safe, dependable water while supporting the long-term efficiency of the community’s infrastructure."
"Repairing these leaking water lines will save every customer in Rural Water District No. 17 a significant amount of money going forward and will help us preserve this most precious resource,” said Representative Rick West, R-Heavener. “I'm grateful to the OWRB for the grant funding to make these repairs."
“We are grateful to State Senator George Burns and State Representative Eddy Dempsey and Rick West for their continued support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.
The ARPA grant program is administered by the OWRB with funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and appropriated through the American Rescue Plan Act grants program. This OWRB program has been structured to provide communities and other eligible entities with the financial resources necessary to address water and wastewater infrastructure needs within their systems.
Since 1983 the Water Resources Board has approved over $8.3 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
