Learn about Oklahoma Water Resources Board including our News & Press Releases, Projects, and Team.
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Learn about Oklahoma Water Resources Board including our News & Press Releases, Projects, and Team.
About Oklahoma Water Resources Board
- Established in
- 1957
- Bond Ratings
- Aaa/AAA/AAA
- Bonds Outstanding (as of 4/30/26)
- $2,798,800,000
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.
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The Edmond Public Works Authority Receives $416,000,000 Loan for Water System Improvements from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Edmond Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for a $416,000 Financial Assistance Program (FAP) loan on Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve their water infrastructure.
The Authority owns and operates one water treatment plant, 12 water storage tanks and associated transmission and distribution mains. The Authority relies on a combination of local groundwater and surface water to supply its drinking water demands. The Authority’s Water Master Plan recommended a higher reliance on surface water from Arcadia Lake to meet the growing demands of the population. A three-phase project was proposed to expand the existing Arcadia water treatment plant originally constructed in 1987. The Authority is requesting a loan for the third phase of this project.
The scope of this phase includes elements upstream of the Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) contactors that will be required to expand the capacity from 12 million gallons per day to 30 million gallons per day. This project will include pre-ozone contactors, solids contact clarifiers, post-ozone contactors, filters and two large chemical buildings. The proposed plan for this project is to relocate these elements to a new elevated site, recently acquired by the City of Edmond, that will eliminate the need for any intermediate pumping.
According to Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $8,083,100 when compared to traditional financing. The loan shall be secured with a subordinate lien on the revenues of the Authority’s water, sewer, sanitation, and electric systems and a 2 cents sales tax.
Okmulgee County Rural Water District No. 4 Receives $2,020,000 Loan for Water System Improvements from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – Okmulgee County Rural Water District No. 4 (District) received approval for a $2,020,000 Financial Assistance Program (FAP) loan on Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve their water infrastructure.
The District owns and operates a water distribution system consisting of approximately 120 miles of water mains and one active elevated storage tank. The existing water storage capacity does not meet the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) requirements. To address this deficiency and improve system reliability and water quality, the proposed project will construct a new, 250,000-gallon elevated storage tank to address this deficiency and improve water quality and system reliability.
According to Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, the District’s customers will save an estimated $491,200 when compared to traditional financing. The loan shall be secured with a lien on the revenues of the District’s water services and a mortgage on the water system.
Blackwell Municipal Authority Receives $18,840,000 Loan for Water System Improvements from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – Blackwell Municipal Authority (Authority) received approval for an $18,840,000 Financial Assistance Program (FAP) loan on Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve their water infrastructure.
The Authority will rehabilitate and upgrade their water system’s filtration system, including the residuals handling facilities, yard piping and plant hydraulics, electrical and control systems and pumping and process systems, as well as the selective demolition of obsolete facilities, plus all appurtenances and services necessary to complete the project. The rehabilitation will improve treatment process control, increase system redundancy, enhance maintainability and improve the overall reliability and resiliency of the water treatment plant.
According to Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $2,448,000 when compared to traditional financing. The loan shall be secured with a lien on the revenues of the Authority’s water, sewer and sanitation services, a mortgage on the water, sewer, and electric systems, and a 1.5 cents sales tax.
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