Osage County Rural Water District No. 1 Receives $100,000 Grant for Water System Improvements from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Osage County Rural Water District No. 1, Osage County, Oklahoma (District) in Osage County received approval for a $100,000 Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) grant on Tuesday through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the District’s water infrastructure.
The District currently purchases its water from the City of Bartlesville and operates a distribution system that relies on aging manual meters, many of which are contributing to unaccounted-for water loss. Additionally, the District has seen an increase in customer service inquiries, highlighting the need for more accurate and efficient meter reading technology. To address these challenges, the proposed project will replace approximately 369 manual meters with new Automated Meter Reading (AMR) meters. These modern meters will allow for faster, more precise data collection and improving billing accuracy. The project also includes the purchase and installation of the necessary AMR reading equipment, which will be integrated into the District’s meter reader vehicle. These upgrades will provide lasting benefits to the community by enhancing operational efficiency, conserving valuable water resources, and supporting better customer service.
The estimated cost of the project is $131,225.60 which will be funded by the OWRB REAP grant in the amount of $99,999.99 and $31,225.61 from local funds.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB's Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the grant will save the Authority’s customers $185,600 in principal and interest charges by not having to borrow the project funds.
“This Rural Economic Action Plan grant will support Osage County Rural Water District No. 1 in upgrading its aging water meters, ensuring more accurate water tracking and billing,” said Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City. “I’m grateful for the Oklahoma Water Resources Board’s investment in this critical project that will benefit the community.”
“We are grateful to Senator Bill Coleman and Representative Judd Strom for their continued support of water and wastewater infrastructure funding in Oklahoma,” said Julie Cunningham, OWRB Executive Director.
Since 1983 the Water Resources Board has approved over $7.9 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
