Press Release

Ponca City Utility Authority receives $1,000,000 grant for system improvements

OKLAHOMA CITY –The Ponca City Utility Authority (Authority) received approval for $1,000,000 in funding Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s water and wastewater infrastructure.  The study, planning, and construction of upgrades and improvements to the systems will be financed by the Oklahoma American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program along with $1,000,000 in local funds.

The Authority is in need of a new method for raw water delivery, lead and copper service line master inventory to identify lines for replacement, and rehabilitation of approximately 5,500 linear feet (LF) of 8-inch sanitary sewer lines. These proceeds will be used to conduct a review and analysis for the raw water intake lines, develop a sampling plan to determine potential hazardous services lines, and rehabilitate or replace 5,500 LF of 8-inch sanitary sewer line, and twenty-five (25) manholes.

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,633,900compared to traditional financing.