Oklahoma City has received a $4.6 million loan from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to do repairs and improvements to prevent pollution of Lake Overholser and Lake Stanley Draper.
The loan was approved at a recent meeting of the Water Resources Board, its second-ever virtual meeting due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The loan to Oklahoma City was one of four loans totaling $5.4 million to different communities. The Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust received the approval of the loan to improve the authority’s infrastructure. Construction of the upgrades and improvements to the system will be financed by the Oklahoma Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
The Trust will use the funds for two road improvement projects which are necessary steps toward helping limit pollution to both Lake Overholser and Lake Stanley Draper. The first project provides for resurfacing of approximately 2 miles of shoreline road along East Stanley Draper Road, from Water Plant Road to South Westminster Road.
The second project includes the resurfacing of approximately 1.5 miles of shoreline road along North Overholser Drive from N County Line Road to NW 36th Street. Both projects will restore the road surface to prevent sedimentation and minimize turbidity in the two reservoirs.
The estimated cost of the project is $4,650,000.00 and is a necessary first step by the City to help limit pollution to both Lake Overholser and Lake Stanley Draper. Both lakes’ watersheds are among the top 100 watersheds prioritized in Oklahoma’s Nonpoint Source Management Plan (NPSMP). This project is consistent with NPSMP efforts, and will help to meet the State of Oklahoma’s Water for 2060 goals.
The city of Meeker received a $17,198 grant for wastewater system improvements. While dealing with blocked sewer lines and attempting to clear them, sewage surfaced to the ground. The project will repair a collapsed sewer line at a total cost of about $20,000.
The Okmulgee Municipal Authority received a $700,000 water system loan to improve the water system and making several water treatment disinfection steps. Construction will be financed by a 100% principal forgiveness loan through the Oklahoma Drinking Water State Revolving Fund along with $323,499 in local funds. There is also partial funding from the EPA.
A grant of $99,999 for water system improvements was made to the Taft Public Works Authority in Muskogee County. The money came from the Rural Economic Action Plan and will be used to improve the authority’s infrastructure.
The project will include sandblasting and painting of a water standpipe and installation of an aeration/recirculation pump and dedicated line at the standpipe. Estimated cost of the project is $345,838 and other funding includes a $205,000 grant from the Community Development Block Grant program, and a $40,000 grant from the Eastern Oklahoma Economic Development District.
Source: Water Resources Board