Press Release

OKLAHOMA CITY – Watonga Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for a $14,000,000 Financial Assistance Program (FAP) loan Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve their  water and wastewater infrastructure.

The Authority will use these proceeds to construct a new ion exchange nitrate removal system and a salt storage system for the water treatment plant. In addition, funding will provide planning and design and construction of a new administration and operations building, a grit removal facility, and a digestion system for the wastewater treatment plant.

According to Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, the Authority’s  customers will save an estimated $3,647,800 over the life of the 31-year loan compared to traditional financing. The loan shall be secured with a lien on the revenues of the Authority’s water, electric, sewer, and sanitation systems, and a mortgage. Watonga’s Mayor, Bill Seitter, stated, “We have done a lot lately and continue to move forward on our water and wastewater system improvements. We appreciate the Board’s consideration as we move toward the next steps.”