Wewoka Public Works Authority Receives $1,500,000 Wastewater System Loan with 100% Principal Forgiveness from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Wewoka Public Works 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 operates a wastewater collection system and treatment plant made up of aging clay and PVC pipes, brick manholes, and lift stations. A recent system-wide Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Survey (SSES) revealed that the deteriorating infrastructure allows excess inflow and infiltration to enter the system during wet weather, leading to overflows, backups, and unauthorized discharges. These conditions have contributed to multiple compliance challenges. To address these issues, the Authority will begin planning and design for critical improvements to the wastewater treatment plant and collection system based on findings from the SSES. These efforts aim to reduce flooding risks, stop sewer overflows, and improve long-term system performance.
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.
“We are grateful to State Senator Grant Green and State Representative Danny Williams 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 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.
