The Wilburton Public Works Authority Receives $1,582,700 Wastewater System Loan from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Wilburton Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for a $1,582,700 loan 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 Authority operates a wastewater treatment system that serves more than 2,200 residents and businesses in Latimer County. Much of the facility’s equipment is aging and in deteriorating condition, leading to system failures during heavy rain events. To ensure reliable service and protect water quality, the Authority will replace and repair critical equipment at the wastewater treatment plant and lift stations, including pumps, blowers, bar screens, generators, electrical control systems, and upgrades to the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, which will enhance the ability to track performance, respond quickly to issues, and manage operations more efficiently. These improvements will strengthen performance, reduce the risk of service disruptions, and support the long-term needs of the community.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,342,700 over the life of the 20-year loan compared to traditional financing. The CWSRF loan will be secured with a lien on the revenues of the Authority’s water, sewer, and sanitation services and a 1.5 cents sales tax. The Wilburton Public Works Authority’s officials attending the OWRB’s monthly meeting in support of the loan application included Treasurer and Secretary Dede Morris. “We would like to thank you so much for the consideration of this loan,” said Morris when addressing the Board Members.
"I want to thank the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for investing in this project. Wilburton is my hometown, my family has lived here for generations, and reliable, clean water is the foundation for growth and sustainability,” said Rep. Jim Grego, R-Wilburton. “This investment means a great deal to me personally and to the future of our community."
“We are grateful to State Senator Warren Hamilton and State Representative Jim Grego 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 $2.9 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 $8.3 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
