Aging water lines in Canute will soon be replaced thanks to nearly $1 million in funding approved by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) approved a $999,999 loan with 100% principal forgiveness for the Canute Public Works Authority on Tuesday, June 16. Because the loan is entirely forgivable, the project will be completed without requiring the town to repay the funding, allowing the community to modernize its water infrastructure without taking on long-term debt.
The project will replace approximately 2,750 feet of aging water main with new piping designed to improve water pressure, reduce leaks and breaks, and increase the overall reliability of the town’s water distribution system.
According to the OWRB, replacing the deteriorating water lines will help maintain consistent water pressure, improve system performance, and reduce long-term maintenance costs while supporting the reliable delivery of safe drinking water to residents and businesses throughout the community.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, estimated the funding will save the Canute Public Works Authority approximately $1.58 million compared to traditional financing methods.
OWRB Executive Director Julie Cunningham and Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality Executive Director Rob Singletary also thanked State Sen. Brent Howard and State Rep. Nick Archer for their support of the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program.
The funding is being provided through Oklahoma’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), a federal-state partnership that helps communities finance drinking water infrastructure improvements through low-interest loans and, in qualifying cases, principal forgiveness. In Oklahoma, the program is jointly administered by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. According to the OWRB, the program has provided approximately $2.5 billion in drinking water loans statewide.
For Canute, a Washita County community with a population of 494 according to the 2020 U.S. Census, the forgivable loan represents a significant investment in critical infrastructure without placing an additional financial burden on local residents.
Following the board’s approval, the Canute Public Works Authority will proceed with final engineering, bidding, and construction planning before work begins. A construction timeline has not yet been announced. Once completed, officials say the improvements are expected to reduce emergency repairs, lower maintenance expenses, and provide a more dependable water system for the community.
The award was announced by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board on Thursday, June 18. The OWRB is committed to managing, protecting, and improving Oklahoma’s water resources to meet long-term needs for water supply, water quality, flood mitigation, and infrastructure. For more information, visit Oklahoma. gov/owrb.