YALE — Grant funding from the Oklahoma Water Resource Board (OWRB) was recently secured for the water loop project which is nearing completion. According to City Manager Phillip Kelly, the project is anticipated to improve water pressure and circulation and is designed to strengthen the water system.
Kelly confirmed the city was awarded approximately $70,000 through the OWRB grant program to assist in paying for the water loop installation. The funding comes after several attempts to secure the grant.
“We applied for it about three times and we finally got one,” he said.
According to city staff, the total project cost was $140,304.82 with the largest portion of cost coming from contractor work which made up $123,361 of the total. Meaning the OWRB grant will offset nearly half of the overall costs. Additionally, Kelly having a Class D water license also resulted in a portion of savings.
“I was the pipeline inspector and that saved the city about $8,000,” he said. “I’ve got a Class D water license, so they said I could do it.'
The project is intended to address long-standing water issues in the Western Heights area. According to Kelly, portions of the water system were originally constructed decades ago and were designed to serve roughly 50 houses. With more than 100 houses in the area now, it is past time for an improvement to the system.
Dead-end water lines in the area has also been a problem causing limited circulation and pressure. The completion of the project is anticipated to solve the issue. The water loop installation will allow water to circulate continuously rather than stopping at dead ends, said Kelly.
“With this water line it will circulate the water and get rid o the dead ends and give them a lot better water pressure,” he said.
He noted the project had experienced some delays due to issues with a previous engineering firm which resulted in the need to hire a new firm before moving forward. Kelly added Lone Chimney crews have been working to finish up the project stating the system should be ready to begin operating as soon as a few last minute components have been installed.