Press Release

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Wagoner County Rural Water District No. 5 (District) received approval for $16,215,000 in funding Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the District’s water infrastructure.  Construction of upgrades and improvements to the water system will be financed by the Oklahoma Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), where $913,072 of the loan will be in the form of loan forgiveness, along with $2,000,000 from the Oklahoma American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program, and $2,000,000 in local funds. 

The District will utilize the proceeds forconstruction of a new 5-million gallon per day (MGD) water treatment plant which includes a rapid mix basin, two 2.5 MGD pulsating clarifiers, four 2-MGD declining rate cluster filters, four 1.7-MGD high service pumps, and a chemical feed building. These improvements will provide an adequate supply of drinking water for residents and businesses in and near the District.

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the District’s customers will save a combined estimation of $8,760,172 in principal and interest charges through use of the DWSRF 30-year loan and ARPA grant funds compared to traditional financing. The DWSRF loan will be secured with a lien on the revenues of the District’s water system. District officials attending the OWRB’s monthly meeting in support of the loan application included District Manager, Sean Garrison, and previous District Manager, Arvil Morgan. Mr. Garrison stated, “On behalf of myself, the District Board, staff, and customers, we appreciate your help on a much-needed project. Our goal is always to provide customers with good quality water.”