The Carnegie Public Works Authority Receives $1,000,000 Wastewater System Loan with 100% Principal Forgiveness from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Carnegie Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for a $1,000,000 loan with 100% principal forgiveness on Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s wastewater infrastructure. Construction of upgrades and improvements to the wastewater system will be financed by the Oklahoma Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).
The Carnegie Public Works Authority operates a wastewater treatment plant serving the residents of Carnegie in Caddo County. To address aging infrastructure and improve regulatory compliance, the Authority will move forward with a series of critical upgrades to its treatment facility. Planned improvements include replacing the bar screen used to remove debris, installing new pumps and controls at the lift station, upgrading brush aerators for wastewater treatment, repainting existing clarifiers, and constructing a new chemical building for disinfection and de-chlorination. These enhancements will support improved system performance, restore compliance, and protect water quality in the Washita River.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,632,100 compared to traditional financing.
“We are grateful to State Senator Darcy Jech and State Representative Toni Hasenbeck for their support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.
The CWSRF program is administered by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board with partial funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The CWSRF program has provided approximately $2.8 billion in water quality 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 $8.2 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
