Press Release

OKLAHOMA CITY – The City of Bethany (City) in Oklahoma County received approval for a $100,000 Emergency Grant Tuesday through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the City’s water infrastructure.

During a recent high rainfall event, the City experienced significant reductions in the water elevation of a water tower. It was discovered that stormwater had caused the arched corrugated metal pipe beneath a waterline to fail at the intersection of NW 23rd Street and Council Road. This event washed the surrounding soil downstream, leaving the waterline unsupported which resulted in a line break. These proceeds will be used to repair the waterline, install an arched, reinforced concrete pipe from the junction box to the damaged joint of the stormwater system, install a concrete collar around the new arch pipe and the existing corrugated metal pipe, and fill in the washout caused by the breach. The estimated cost of the project is $278,658.52 which will be funded by the requested emergency grant of $100,000 and local funds of $178,658.52.

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB's Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the grant will save the Authority’s customers $174,300 in principal and interest charges by not having to borrow the project funds. Since 1983 the Water Resources Board has approved over $6.5 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.