Press Release

Grand River Dam Authority

The Grand River Dam Authority (Authority) received approval for a $100,000 loan Tuesday    from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to address a nonpoint source concern    of septic systems identified primarily within Delaware County. Construction of upgrades and improvements will be financed by a 100% principal forgiveness loan through the Oklahoma Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) along with a $50,000 grant provided by the          Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC).

The Authority has identified several septic systems in the Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees area that have issues with discharge of sewage to the surface or have been inundated by flood waters. These systems have been identified as a nonpoint source contaminant and water quality concerns by the OCC. The purpose of the project is to replace the current septic systems with aerobic systems or to remove the septic system and connect to a public wastewater treatment system when feasible. These improvements will reduce unintended flows to the Grand Lake and Lake Hudson watersheds.

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $142,400 compared to traditional financing.