Learn about Oklahoma Water Resources Board, including Featured News, Projects, The Team, Our Funding Programs, and Our Mission Statement and Strategic Narrative.
The OWRB's mission is to protect and enhance the quality of life for Oklahomans by managing and improving the state’s water resources to ensure clean and reliable water supplies, a strong economy, and a safe and healthy environment.
Our primary duties and responsibilities include water use appropriation and permitting, water quality monitoring and standards, financial assistance for water/wastewater systems, dam safety, floodplain management, water supply planning, technical studies and research, and water resource mapping.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - A Historic Investment in Water for Oklahoma and how funds will flow through the state's SRF programs.
Consolidated Rural Water District No. 9, McIntosh County (District) received approval for $695,000 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 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) where $300,000 of the loan will be in the form of loan forgiveness.
The District will utilize the proceeds to construct two chlorine booster stations and for improvements to their storage tank. Disinfecting drinking water has reduced waterborne disease drastically. 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 $574,900 over the life of the 20-year loan compared to traditional financing. The DWSRF loan will be secured with a lien on the revenues of the District’s water system and a mortgage.
The DWSRF program is administered by the OWRB and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) with partial funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The DWSRF program has provided approximately $2 billion in drinking water loans to provide communities the resources necessary to maintain and improve the infrastructure that protects our valuable water resources statewide.
Since 1983, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board has approved over $5.7 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB, and Scott Thompson, Executive Director of the ODEQ, express their sincere appreciation to State Senator Roger Thompson and Representatives Avery Frix, Randy Randleman, and David Smith for their support of the DWSRF program.
The Mountain Park Public Works Authority (Authority) in Kiowa County received approval for a $99,999 Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) grant Monday through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s water infrastructure.
The Authority will use the proceeds to construct an in-tank aeration system for water circulation. Disinfecting drinking water has reduced waterborne disease drastically. 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. The estimated cost of the project is $99,999 which is the amount of the requested REAP grant.
Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB's Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the grant will save the Authority’s customers $150,500 in principal and interest charges by not having to borrow the project funds. Since 1983 the Water Resources Board has approved over $5.5 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
“We are grateful to Senator Brent Howard and Representative Gerrid Kendrix for their continued support of water and wastewater infrastructure funding in Oklahoma,” said Julie Cunningham, OWRB Executive Director.
Agency's Executive Director
The Oklahoma Water Resources Board's (OWRB) Financial Assistance Division assists communities in their efforts to protect and conserve Oklahoma's water resources for current and future generations through cost-effective financial products, technical assistance, and high quality customer service. To find more information, please visit here.
Loan Programs:
The CWSRF loan program is funded by EPA capitalization grants, state matching funds, and bonds. The CWSRF is administered by the OWRB. The interest rate is approximately 60% of AAA market rate with 40% savings through federal subsidy.
The DWSRF loan program is funded by EPA capitalization grants, state matching funds, loan repayments, investment earnings, and bonds. The DWSRF is co-administered by the OWRB and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ). The interest rate is approximately 70% of AAA market rate with 30% savings through federal subsidy.
The OWRB's state loan revenue bond program offers long term, variable interest rate funding with a fixed rate conversion option. This low interest rate is based on the OWRB's AAA credit rating.
Grant Programs:
The Emergency Grant Program is a point-based program designed to assist communities facing crises which threaten life, health, or property.
The REAP Grant Program is a point-based program designed to assist smaller communities that lack sufficient fiscal capacity. Cities, towns, and municipalities with a population less than 1,750 are given priority. Rural water and/or sewer districts with less than 525 non-pasture customers are also given priority.
