DEQ Announces Finalization of Waterline Connection from Copan to Osage County RWD #20

For Immediate Release:  March 8, 2023

Contact:  Erin Hatfield, (405) 437.8468

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is proud to announce the completion of a 6.5-mile water line connection from the Town of Copan to Osage County Rural Water District (RWD) #20. DEQ utilized the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to provide $1,977,000 for the project at no cost to the water systems or customers. This funding was used to make much-needed updates to increase the capacity of Copan’s water treatment facility and to create the connection to Osage Co. RWD #20.

“It is encouraging to see local communities working together to solve their water challenges,” said DEQ Water Quality Division Director Shellie Chard. “DEQ was able to work with the systems to provide funding with no repayment resulting in affordable water rates.”

Osage County RWD #20 is a small, disadvantaged community that has had multiple drinking water violations and outages leaving customers without water for extended periods of time. This project helps ensure Osage County RWD #20 customers will have a safe and reliable source of drinking water.

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