Press Release

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust (Trust) received approval for $75,261,000 in funding Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s water infrastructure.  Construction of upgrades and improvements to the water system will be financed by the Oklahoma Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF).

The Trust will utilize the proceeds to complete four rehabilitation and upgrade projects at the Hefner and Draper water treatment plants, rehabilitate the Atoka intake tower, replace the Atoka pump station’s balancing tank, make electrical improvements to a booster station, and replace water lines between NW 10th and Main Street along Penn Avenue. The project will help to ensure water quality and pressure is maintained in the system and that the treated water meets federal drinking water standards for customers of the Trust.

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $11,587,400 over the life of the 30-year loan compared to traditional financing. The DWSRF loan will be secured with a lien on the revenues of the Authority’s water, sewer and sanitation systems. Will Huggins, Deputy Director of Utilities Management attended OWRB’s monthly meeting in support of the loan application included. Mr. Huggins shared, “Thank you for approving our project. It covers several different components while renewing several critical aspects of our water system.”