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Cherokee County Rural Water, Sewer, Gas and Solid Waste Management District No. 16 Receives $783,379 Water System Loan with Principal Forgiveness from the OWRB

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Cherokee County Rural Water, Sewer, Gas and Solid Waste Management District No. 16 (District) received approval for a $783,379 loan with 100% principal forgiveness on 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).

The District operates a public water system and will use the funding to replace aging infrastructure by installing more than 9,000 feet of new high-density polyethylene (HDPE) water lines. These improvements will strengthen the reliability of the distribution system and help ensure consistent water service for customers by reducing frequent repairs and water loss. Overall, the upgrades will enhance long-term system performance and protect the community’s access to safe, dependable drinking water.

Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the District’s customers will save an estimated $1,249,679 when compared to traditional financing.

The Mannford Public Works Authority Receives $693,820 Water System Funding from the OWRB

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Mannford Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for a $693,820 loan with 100% principal forgiveness on 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 Authority operates a public water system and will use the proceeds to replace 992 aging water meters with modern automated metering infrastructure (AMI), which provides accurate, real-time water-use data. Upgrading to AMI will improve the precision of water monitoring, help quickly identify leaks and other sources of water loss, and reduce operational costs tied to manual meter reading. By automating these tasks, operators will have more time to focus on system maintenance, repairs, and other critical needs. These improvements will strengthen long-term water reliability and support more efficient service for residents and businesses served by the Authority.

Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,110,620 when compared to traditional financing.

The Granite Public Works Authority Receives $483,343 Water System Loan with Principal Forgiveness from the OWRB

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Granite Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for a $483,343 loan with 100% principal forgiveness on 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 Authority operates a public water system and will use the funding to install approximately 500 new water meters equipped with automated metering infrastructure (AMI), which provides accurate, real-time water-use data. This technology will improve the efficiency of water system operations, enhance leak detection, and strengthen monitoring and control of key infrastructure. By reducing the need for manual meter reading, the project will give operators more time to focus on system maintenance and repairs. These upgrades will support long-term water reliability and help ensure the community continues to receive dependable, high-quality service.

Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $779,243 when compared to traditional financing.