Press Release

OKLAHOMA CITY –The Pittsburg County Rural Water District No. 8 (District) received approval for $500,000 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 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program along with $500,000 in Choctaw Nation tribal matching funds.

The District owns and operates a water purchase system. These proceeds will be used to construct a new standpipe with an aeration system installed at the tank and replace 5,000 linear feet of water line. Disinfecting drinking water has reduced waterborne disease dramatically. However, byproducts which may result by the disinfection can sometimes have unintended effects. Therefore, by addressing this issue, this project helps to meet the public health goals for the state. 

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the District’s customers will save an estimated $762,500 compared to traditional financing.