Warr Acres Public Works Authority receives $10,210,000 wastewater system loan from OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Warr Acres Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for a $10,210,000 loan Thursday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s wastewater infrastructure. Construction of upgrades and improvements to the wastewater system will be financed by the Oklahoma Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) along with $1,200,000 in local funds.
The Authority owns and operates a sanitary sewer collection system that is near the end of its useful life and therefore, experiencing inflow and infiltration (I/I) into the system. The Authority will utilize these proceeds to conduct a sanitary sewer evaluation study (SSES) of the entire system, complete an engineering evaluation of areas in need of cleaning, repair, rehabilitation, or replacement and design for components revealed through the SSES. Additionally, this project will include line and manhole replacement and rehabilition of a 21-inch interceptor. These improvements will address inflow and infiltration into the sewer collection system thereby reducing unintended flows to the wastewater treatment facility and preventing unpermitted discharges from wet weather.
Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $4,983,900 over the life of the 30-year loan compared to traditional financing. The CWSRF loan will be secured with a lien on the revenue of the Authority’s sewer system and a one (1) cent sales tax. Representatives of the Authority included Mayor, Roger Godwin, Consulting Engineer, Marc Long, and Financial Advisor, John Wolff. Mr. Godwin stated, “This loan will put things into place and allow Warr Acres to focus on longevity. We would appreciate the Board’s approval.”
