Tishomingo Municipal Authority Receives $1,500,000 Wastewater System Loan with 100% Principal Forgiveness from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Tishomingo Municipal Authority (Authority) received approval for a $1,500,000 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 Authority owns and operates a wastewater system that includes a treatment plant currently facing significant challenges due to aging infrastructure and mechanical systems that have exceeded their useful life. To resolve these issues and accommodate future growth, the Authority will construct a new 0.55 million-gallon-per-day advanced wastewater treatment facility at the existing site. The new plant will be designed to enhance treatment efficiency and improve the discharge to Pennington Creek, an Oklahoma Scenic River and a vital water source for the City of Tishomingo. The improvements will support long-term reliability and ensure regulatory compliance.
The project will be funded from sources including the $1.5 million in Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) principal forgiveness, $4.1 million from the OWRB American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Grant, $4.1 million from the Chickasaw Nation ARPA grant, and $4.1 million from Indian Health Services (IHS).
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $2,466,900 compared to traditional financing.
“This funding is a major step forward for the City of Tishomingo and the health of our community,” said Rep. Ryan Eaves, R-Atoka. “Upgrading the wastewater treatment system will ensure cleaner water for residents now and for generations to come. I appreciate the partnership between local leadership and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to make this essential project a reality.”
“We are grateful to State Senators David Bullard and Jerry Alvord and State Representative Ryan Eaves 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.
