Oklahoma secures EPA funding for wastewater improvements

The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) has secured over $11m in funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve the state’s wastewater infrastructure.

These funds will be used to offer loans and other types of financial assistance to the local communities and intermunicipal and interstate agencies under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund programme.

OWRB will also support initiatives that work in eradicating diseases which could be caused by raw sewage discharges.

EPA grants funds to each of the 50 states and Puerto Rico under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund programme to capitalise state funds to be used for high-priority water quality activities.

New loans are made to other recipients to maintain water quality, once money is paid back into the revolving fund.

EPA said that the loans also will be used in the improvement of water quality in streams, lakes and rivers to benefit aquatic life and drinking water sources.

The fund is authorised by the federal Clean Water Act, and offers an innovative method of financing a range of environmental projects.