Lexington gets OWRB funding

The City of Lexington recently received approval for $1,000,000 in funding from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the city’s water infrastructure.

Construction of upgrades and improvements to the water system will be financed by the Oklahoma American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program. 

The city owns and operates a water distribution system that has under-sized and dilapidated waterlines. These proceeds will be used to replace approximately 5,000 linear feet of waterline with six-inch PVC pipe and add valves and fire hydrants. 

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the city’s customers will save an estimated $1,553,200 compared to traditional financing. 

The ARPA grant program is administered by the OWRB with funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and appropriated through the Water and Wastewater American Rescue Plan Act grants program.

This OWRB program has been structured to provide communities and other eligible entities with the financial resources necessary to address water and wastewater infrastructure needs within their systems.

Since 1983 the Water Resources Board has approved over $7.1 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma. 

“We are grateful to state legislators from the Lexington area for their continued support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.

“I am so pleased that the City of Lexington will soon see upgraded water services for their area,” Representative Cynthia Roe said. “I want to thank the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for their work, and I look forward to seeing this change improve the lives of the Lexington community for years to come.”