Press Release

**Duncan Public Utilities Authority                                                                                                            **

The Duncan Public Utilities Authority (Authority) received approval for a $8,200,000 loan     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 will use the proceeds for major manhole replacement and rehabilitation, new sewer lines, and for wastewater treatment plant improvements. These improvements will     help to reduce unintended flows to the wastewater treatment plant and sanitary sewer          overflows.  Improvements at the wastewater treatment plant will assist with meeting             discharge permit limits at the plant.

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $2,324,400 over the life of the 30-year loan compared to traditional financing.  The CWSRF loan will be secured with a lien on the revenues of the Authority’s water, sewer, sanitation, and electric systems along with a one cent sales tax. An Authority representative shared, “On behalf of the citizens of Duncan, we would like to express our appreciation to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. The Board’s loan programs have helped manage the costs to upgrade the City’s water and wastewater infrastructure.  We would particularly like to thank the OWRB staff for their hard work and assistance.”