The Elk City Public Works Authority Receives $3,494,544 Water System Loan from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Elk City Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for a $3,494,544 loan on Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s Water infrastructure. Construction of upgrades and improvements to the water system will be financed by the Oklahoma Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF).
The Authority operates a public water system that provides drinking water to residents and businesses throughout the community. To ensure continued access to safe and reliable water, the Authority will replace aging and deteriorating cast iron water lines with modern materials. The project includes installing over 11,700 linear feet of new waterline using durable PVC and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, along with all necessary fittings and components. These upgrades will significantly improve system reliability, reduce the risk of leaks, and enhance water quality for customers currently served by failing infrastructure.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,052,436 compared to traditional financing. The DWSRF loan will be secured with a lien on the revenues of the Authority’s water, sewer, and sanitation services.
The Elk City Public Works Authority’s officials attending the OWRB’s monthly meeting in support of the loan application included City Manager Tom Ivester. “Thank you to the Board for having us here,’ said Ivester. “Elk City is doing something a little different. We were founded in 1902 and have 12,000 residents. We have 22 miles of waterline that needs to be replaced over the next 20 years. We started this program for replacement 3 years ago. The idea is to replace about 2 miles, or 11,000-12,000 ft., about every 3 years. We have instituted a surcharge on our water, it generates about $1.1M a year, and we are using this as front money. We plan on having this loan paid off in two years and then will come back again and again. We think this is a sustainable plan and the hope is that long after I am gone, they will continue this and we will have completely new water lines within 30 years, so we appreciate it.”
"Replacing aging water lines will help ensure safe, reliable drinking water for families and businesses in House District 55,” said Rep. Nick Archer, R-Elk City. “I’m proud to support critical investments like this that strengthen our rural communities and improve quality of life across western Oklahoma. I appreciate the support of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and the work they do to protect our water infrastructure for generations to come."
Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB, and Rob Singletary, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ), express their sincere appreciation to State Senator Brent Howard and State Representative Nick Archer for their support of the DWSRF program.
The DWSRF program is administered by the OWRB and ODEQ with partial funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The DWSRF program has provided approximately $2.4 billion in drinking water 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.
