Oklahoma
Several communities in Delaware County were experiencing in 2015 compliance issues with federal drinking water standards and state construction standards, such as water from wells with levels of fluoride, combined radium, and gross alpha particles above the maximum contaminant level and aging infrastructure.
By 2017, the communities had come together to create the South Delaware County Regional Water Authority (SDCRWA). In April 2017, The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) approved a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF)loan for SDCRWA, The project, for which the ribbon was cut in December 2019, stands out for two main reasons.
First, this was a true regionalization project. Consisting of the construction of a new surface water treatment plant, two new standpipes*, three booster pump stations, and the installation of water lines, it has allowed SDCRWA to provide water to the following entities:
- Colcord Public Works Authority
- Kansas Works Authority
- Delaware County Rural Water, Sewer, Gas, and Solid Waste Management District No. 11
- West Siloam Springs
- Three Springs Farm
- Cookson Hills Christian School
Second, this project is a great example of multiple funders working together. The SDCRWA project, which would have been cost-prohibitive for the DWSRF to fund alone, was a success thanks to the leadership of all the following agencies.
| Funding Agency | Funding Amount(1) |
|---|
| USDepartment of Agriculture’s Rural Development | $10,635,000 |
| OWRBand Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality(2) | $3,000,000 |
| IndianHealth Services | $1,629,000 |
| CherokeeNation | $347,400 |
| LocalFunds | $90,000 |
| TOTAL | $15,701,400 |
* A standpipe is like a water tower that is not on an elevated base. It looks like a giant cigarette (or a “standing pipe”)
(1)The figures above are pre-construction estimates.
(2)The OWRB and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality manage the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
For questions or more information, please e-mail Charles de Coune at charles.decoune@owrb.ok.gov or call him at 405-530-8800