The Covington Utilities Authority Receives $134,607 Grant for Wastewater System Improvements from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Covington Utilities Authority (Authority) in Garfield County received approval for a $134,607 Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) grant on Tuesday through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s wastewater infrastructure.
The Authority operates a sanitary sewer collection system that is experiencing overflows caused by aging and deteriorated clay tile sewer lines. To address this issue and improve system reliability, the proposed project will replace approximately 300 linear feet of 10-inch sewer main and one manhole, along with all necessary components. These upgrades will help reduce the risk of future overflows and protect public health and the environment. The estimated cost of the project is $134,607.00 which will be funded by the OWRB REAP grant in the amount of $134,607.00
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB's Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the grant will save the Authority’s customers $182,400 in principal and interest charges by not having to borrow the project funds.
"No one wants a sewage overflow, and I'm grateful for this grant to stop just such a situation from continuing in Covington,” said Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando. “Replacing these deteriorating sewer lines is important for the sanitation of this community, and I appreciate the Oklahoma Water Resources Board's attention to helping to fund this needed project."
“We are grateful to Senator Roland Pederson and Representative John Pfeiffer for their continued support of water and wastewater infrastructure funding in Oklahoma,” said Julie Cunningham, OWRB Executive Director.
In Fiscal Year 2025, the OWRB funded over 50 projects through its REAP grant program, a 450% increase from the previous year, thanks in part to a $4 million appropriation from the Oklahoma Legislature. To date, the OWRB has awarded more than $73 million in REAP grants, helping small communities statewide save over $130 million in total project costs.
Since 1983 the Water Resources Board has approved over $8.2 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
