SW Oklahoma ARPA Regional Alliance - City of Lawton

PROJECT PURPOSE

The Lawton Wastewater Treatment Plant serves the Lawton Community to include Fort Sill and all of our industrial partners. Over the years the plants processes have become outdated and in need of extensive repair. Phase I of the project is currently in design and will be bid in July 2022. Phase I includes construction of a new influent pump station, a new grit removal system, new administration /lab building, rehabilitation of existing digesters, site electrical, SCADA, and solids facility. The estimated cost for phase I in excess of the amount covered by our $47,000,000 State Revolving Fund Loan is $25,000,000. The design report for Phase II was recently completed. Phase II will include new primary clarifiers, RAS/WAS pump station, add anaerobic digesters, upgrades to the electrical system, and a new sludge blending facility. The estimated cost of Phase II is $70,000,000. These projects are critical for the Lawton Community as the quality of our plant effluent affects the biosphere of the downstream environment. The Engineering Report has been approved by ODEQ and the Environmental clearance has been issued by OWRB for both projects.

EVIDENCE

Improvements to the wastewater plant are necessary for the plant to serve the community. The upgrades will be designed by a professional engineer and the improved plant will meet or exceed current environmental standards.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

While Southwest Oklahoma continues to work very hard to improve conditions for our citizens, we continue to struggle with poverty and decline. With 18.5% of our population in poverty and only 45% of our households in owner occupied homes. Our median household income pf just less than $48,000 is more than 10% below the state. Lawton is a very diverse, inclusive and progressive community, but we lack the resources to create the kind of community improvement projects that can move us economically to the next level. Southwestern Oklahoma has felt impact of the pandemic through stagnant municipal revenues and significantly increasing costs due to supply delays and labor shortage. All of Lawton relies on our community having an effective wastewater treatment facility.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

The effluent quality leaving the wastewater plant is measured daily.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma