Longstanding water issues for the city of Duncan could be resolved to some extent as the southern Oklahoma City recently received a $13.5 million loan from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.
State Senator Kendal Sacchieri said it will certainly assist the city address its long-term water and wastewater infrastructure needs.
The $13.52 million loan to the Duncan Public Utilities Authority will support upgrades across the city’s treatment facilities and distribution systems. Sacchieri said reliable water service is one of the most basic responsibilities of government.
“Reliable water infrastructure is not optional. It is a basic government function and the foundation of every rural and small-town community in Oklahoma,” Sacchieri said. “This investment is a necessary step forward as we confront the serious water and infrastructure challenges facing Stephens County and many communities like it.”
Sacchieri said the project will modernize aging equipment, repair treatment plant components, replace deteriorating waterlines and towers, and address long overdue maintenance issues. She said the loan’s projected savings of more than $4 million compared to traditional borrowing highlights the importance of moving forward with the work.
The Duncan Public Utilities Authority serves more than 9,000 connections in Stephens County, and many parts of its system are more than 35 years old.
The loan is backed by a lien on revenues from the city’s water, sewer, sanitation, and electric systems, along with a one-cent sales tax. It does not place a mortgage on the utility systems.
Since 1983, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board has approved more than $8.3 billion for water and wastewater infrastructure projects statewide.