The Oklahoma DWSRF Program received approximately $31,500,000 from the ARRA to fund construction projects for drinking water systems in Oklahoma.

The DEQ Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program will offer a grant/loan combination with approximately 30 percent of a project’s cost in the form of a grant and 70 percent in the form of a low interest loan.

This bill is to put people to work and will be used for projects that are "shovel-ready."

The DEQ set a 120 day deadline to allow water systems to get "shovel-ready." The deadline expired June 16th, 2009. However, DEQ will continue to accept projects to be funded under the existing DWSRF program. Should additional ARRA funds become available, those projects that are "shovel-ready" may be funded by the additional ARRA money.

To be "shovel-ready," the following must be completed:

• Project is placed and prioritized on the Project Priority List
• Engineering Report approved by DEQ
• Plans and Specifications approved and permitted by DEQ
• Environmental Review is complete
• Application to the OWRB is approved

Projects must have contracts awarded or be under construction within 12 months (February 16th, 2010) or funds will be reallocated to other states.

Projects at the top of the Project Priority List that are "shovel-ready" will be selected first to receive a 30 percent grant or up to a $2,000,000 maximum amount.  If a project is at the top of the list, but not "shovel-ready," that project will not receive grant funds and be by-passed.

1. Submit letter to the DEQ requesting to be placed on the Project Priority List. (Link to a sample of the request letter) The letter should include the following information:

    a. Project Description
    b. Amount of funds needed
    c. Date to start construction
    d. Name of consulting engineer, if system has one under contract

2. Submit final Engineering Report (3 copies) to the DEQ for review. The Engineering Report must follow the Funding Agency Coordinating Team’s (FACT) Guidelines.

3. Submit plans and specifications (3 copies) to the DEQ for review.

4. Contact the DWSRF Environmental Coordinator (405) 702-8100 to determine the type of environmental review that will be needed and instructions for the described project.

5. Contact the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) at (405) 530-8800 to get an Application for DWSRF Funding.

The DEQ receives the letter to be placed on the Project Priority List and rates the system and assigns points based on the following:

• Public Health
  • Under DEQ Consent Order
  • Number and type of violations
  • Shortage of Water
• Affordability
  • Median Household Income
• Consolidation/Regionalization
• Source Water Protection Program Adopted

The projects on the Project Priority List are prioritized with the highest points at the top of the list and then in descending order.

Once the engineering report, plans and specifications, environmental review and the funding application is approved, the project is recommended to be submitted to the OWRB Board for a binding commitment for funds.

The project is advertized for bid, the grant/loan is sized accordingly and closed.

The contract is awarded, a notice to proceed is issued and construction starts.

Click here to view or download a PDF file of this information.