Norman Utilities Authority Receives $2,000,000 Grant for System Improvements from the OWRB

The Norman Utilities Authority (Authority) received approval for $2,000,000 in funding on 9/16/25 from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority's water and wastewater infrastructure. Construction of upgrades and improvements to the water and wastewater systems will be financed by the OWRB American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program.

The Authority will utilize the funding to support construction of a new line maintenance facility. Previously, line maintenance staff worked out of outdated facilities that limited efficiency and delayed response times to community needs. The new facility is specifically designed to provide staff with the space, equipment, and strategic location required to respond more quickly and effectively to water and wastewater line issues across Norman. The total cost of the project was $8,300,119.63 which was funded by local funds and will now receive $2,000,000.00 in reimbursement from OWRB ARPA funds.

Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB's Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority's customers will save an estimated $3,314,400.00 compared to traditional financing.

"We are grateful to State Legislators from the Norman area for their continued support of our financial assistance programs," said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.

The ARPA grant program is administered by the OWRB with funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and appropriated through the 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.

"The City of Norman and Norman Utilities Authority appreciates working with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for these grants and continued funding provided for numerous projects," said City of Norman Utilities Engineer Nathan Madenwald. "With the $2,000,000 in grant funding from the OWRB American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for cost reimbursement of the Line Maintenance Facility - which opened in January 2024 - and the $100,000 in emergency grant funding for the critical Bishop Creek sewer aerial crossing replacement caused by flooding in Spring 2025, $2.1 million will be available to allocate to water and sewer projects to address other capital needs to better serve our customers."

Since 1983 the Water Resources Board has approved over $8.3 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.

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