The Edmond Public Works Authority Receives $416,000,000 Loan for Water System Improvements from the OWRB
View allThe 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.