Press Release
December 20, 2016
Broken Arrow Municipal Authority Receives Two Loans from the OWRB for Water and Wastewater System Improvements
Broken Arrow Municipal Authority (Authority) received approval for a $21,000,000 and a $7,185,000 Financial Assistance Program (FAP) loan Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the community’s water and wastewater infrastructure.
The Authority will use loan proceeds from the $21,000,000 to design and construct multiple projects. The funds will be used for improvements at the Verdigris River Water Treatment Plant (WTP) which includes the design and construction of a cooper sulfate feed system, the design for the expansion of the plate settlers, and construction of a new maintenance building. A number of waterline point replacements will occur in the Old Town area along with the construction of a new 24-inch waterline to serve the Omaha St. storage tank. Numerous improvements will be made to the Tiger Hill water storage tanks along with the installation of mixing systems for all 3 tanks at Tiger Hill and the tank at Omaha St.
Multiple wastewater system improvements at the Lynn Lane Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) are also included in the loan including the design and construction of a screening and grit removal system, the design of an odor control system, and the rehabilitation of the existing digesters. Lynn Lane WWTF improvements also include the construction of a new sewer line from the Lynn Lane WWTF to Jasper St., as well as the acquisition of necessary right-of-way. Lastly at Lynn Lane WWTF, a new force main will be constructed to the new Jasper St. sewer line from an existing lift station which also will be renovated using loan proceeds.
The Authority will use the funds from the second loan, totaling $7,185,000, for the design and construction of multiple improvements projects at the Haikey Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). Improvements at the Haikey Creek WWTP include the replacement of an existing force main; the design for the rehabilitation of a grit removal facility; and the design, construction, and inspection costs of a maintenance building at the facility. The Haikey Creek WWTP is owned and operated by the Regional Metropolitan Utility Authority (RMUA). Both Broken Arrow and the Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority (TMUA) utilize the Haikey Creek WWTP for treatment and discharge of a portion of the wastewater collected by their respective wastewater conveyance systems. Broken Arrow and the TMUA equally reimburse RMUA for all operation costs and capital improvements.
According to Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,671,000 over the 30 year life of the two loans. The loan will be secured with a lien on the Authority’s water, sewer, and sanitation system revenues, as well as a 1 cent sales tax. Attended the OWRB’s monthly meeting in support of the loan application was Assistant City Manager, Kenneth Schwab and Alex Mills, Director of Engineering and Construction.
Since 1983, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board has approved over $3.5 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
"We are grateful to legislators from the Broken Arrow area, for their support of our financial assistance programs," said Julie Cunningham, interim Executive Director of the OWRB.
