Westville Utility Authority Receives $1,764,308 in Water System Funding from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Westville Utility Authority (Authority) received approval for $1,764,308 in funding, including $800,000 in principal forgiveness, 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 will use the funding proceeds to construct a new 350,000-gallon elevated water storage tank, along with all necessary appurtenances. This critical infrastructure project is designed to provide the Authority with at least 24 hours of water storage capacity, improving the overall resilience of the water system. Once completed, the new storage tank will significantly enhance water service reliability for residents and businesses in the Westville area.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,433,800 compared to traditional financing. The DWSRF loan will be secured with a lien on the revenues of the Authority’s water, sewer, sanitation services.
Westville Utility Authority’s officials attending the OWRB’s monthly meeting in support of the loan application included Manager Zeb Black. “We would like to thank you for having us out to consider this project and the funding for it,” said Black. “This project will replace our current tank, which was built in 1965 and has come to the end of its useful life.”
"Ensuring that our rural communities have access to safe and reliable drinking water remains a top priority,” said Sen. Tom Woods, R-Westville. “This $1.7 million investment in Westville’s infrastructure, made possible through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, will support the construction of a new elevated storage tank. This critical project will enhance water pressure, increase storage capacity, and deliver long-term benefits to the citizens of Westville."
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 Tom Woods and State Representative David Hardin 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 $7.9 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
