Press Release

Copan Public Works Authority receives $85,000 grant for water system improvements

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Copan Public Works Authority (Authority) in Washington County received approval for a $85,000 Emergency Grant Tuesday through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s water infrastructure.

The Authority's primary water source has experienced lake levels that have dropped approximately six (6) to eight (8) feet and the current intake structure has an increase of mud and sediment that needs to be removed. These proceeds will be used to install a temporary floating intake and by-pass line, remove sediment from the wet well, modify intake piping to set pumps lower in the wet well, and allow removal of pumps.

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB's Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the grant will save the Authority’s customers $174,700 in principal and interest charges by not having to borrow the project funds. Since 1983 the Water Resources Board has approved over $6.9 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.