MANNFORD — A state-funded project to modernize Mannford's water meter system remains a major benefit for the community, however, as of May 27 city officials had relayed the town may be responsible for a portion of the cost after changes were made to state funding guidelines.
Mannford City Manager Gerald Haury said the city was originally told it would receive funding through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board’s (OWRB) Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program without any local repayment obligation. He has since been informed that fiscal year (FY) 2027 program changes could require Mannford to provide a 25 percent matching share over a period of up to 30 years.
'When we were told about the grant opportunity and started the application process, we were told that Mannford wouldn't have to pay anything,' Haury said. 'OWRB has changed the rules for their FY 2027 funding. Anyhow, it is still a great benefit to Mannford.'
The $693,820 funding package was approved to help the Mannford Public Works Authority replace 992 aging water meters with automated metering infrastructure (AMI) — a technology upgrade designed to improve meter-reading accuracy, increase efficiency and provide customers with earlier notification of potential water leaks.
According to Haury, the city has been gradually purchasing compatible water meters during the past seven years in anticipation of receiving automated reading equipment through an agreement with the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) related to electric meter upgrades. Once installed, the new system will automatically collect meter readings — reducing the need for manual readings by city crews and improving both accuracy and consistency. Haury said the technology will also enhance worker safety by limiting the number of manual meter-reading trips required.
One of the most significant benefits for residents will be leak detection capabilities, according to Haury. The system can alert city staff when a meter indicates a probable leak, allowing the city to notify customers before the issue results in excessive water loss and costly utility bills.
'The new meters will notify us when a customer has a probable water leak so that we can let them know and save them money on their water bills by getting their leaks fixed much sooner,' he said.
Residents should notice little disruption during installation, according to city officials. Any temporary water service interruptions are expected to be brief and shorter than those typically associated with water line repairs.
Although details of the potential matching requirement are still being clarified, Haury said the project remains a valuable investment for Mannford. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board previously estimated that the funding structure would save local utility customers more than $1.1 million compared with traditional financing methods.
Installation of the new meters is expected to be completed within six months.