The Newcastle Public Works Authority (NPWA) received approval for a $3,300,000 loan recently from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s infrastructure. Construction of upgrades and improvements to the system will be financed by the Oklahoma Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).
The NPWA’s current water meters are not functioning properly, contributing to overall system inefficiency, and increased unmetered water loss. These proceeds will be used to replace approximately 5,200 meters with automative metering analytic meters, about 750-meter boxes, and a cellular based automated metering analytics system.
This project helps to meet Oklahoma’s Water for 2060 goals by focusing on water conservation and efficiency and reducing unintended flows to the wastewater treatment plant.
The City of Newcastle awarded a bid of $3,368,775 at their October meeting to Metron Farnier, LLC. This bid includes installation of the units, according to City Manager Kevin Self.
The City’s current meters had been getting older, and some were wearing out. The new AMI, or Advanced Metering Infrastructure, will automatically transmit data to the utility office as opposed to data being transmitted to a driver passing by a meter.
Self said the new system will improve the City’s ability to collect frequent and accurate water usage data to improve billing, leak detection, and water resource management.
Newcastle water customers will have access to an App they can use on their phone on a daily basis, if desired, to see how much water they are using.
Self said the app will help customers to better understand their usage, and find leaks.
Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the NPWA will save an estimated $449,700 over the life of the 10-year loan compared to traditional financing. The CWSRF loan will be secured with a lien on the revenues of the Authority’s water and sewer systems along with the City’s existing 2¢ sales tax.
The NPWA was represented by Stuart England, bond counsel, and Newcastle City Attorney Jeff Bryant.
England stated, “Receiving this loan is an important aspect for the City of Newcastle. This project is essential.”
The City Council recently enacted a $6 per month meter fee on 5/8” meters, which is the size most households and some businesses have. This fee is specifically earmarked for replacement and upkeep of the metering system.
The CWSRF program is administered by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board with partial funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The CWSRF program has provided approximately $2.6 billion in water quality loans to provide communities the resources necessary to maintain and improve the infrastructure that protects water resources statewide.
Since 1983, the OWRB has approved more than $6.9 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
“We are grateful to State Senator Jessica Garvin and Rep. Sherrie Conley for their support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, executive director of the OWRB.
