Sequoyah County Water Association (SCWA) manager Vance Mooney reported the $15.3 million water improvement project made possible through a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan is 75 percent complete with plans for total completion by spring of next year.

The project, which began in May, consists of 25 miles of 12” and 16” inch water line, and three miles of 8” line south of McKey which is completed now and in use, Mooney said.

The work began on State Hwy. 101 and is currently taking place in the Fields Chapel area, Mooney said.

Once completed, the Sequoyah County residents who rely on SCWA for their water source will have a new pump with a modern computerized system and water will flow faster and not have to go through the inconvenience of water leaks.

SCWA currently provides water to about 6,500 customers which includes District 5 and emergency water to other water districts in the county, Mooney said.

In February 2022, Sequoyah County Commissioners signed a resolution for SCWA to obtain right-of way for all three districts to get the project going.

USDA provided the loan of $12,358,000 to replace water lines and make other improvements to the county’s rural water system. However, Mooney said with prices which have gone up since then, a request was made to USDA for an additional amount to cover the increased costs of materials.

“When we submitted the loan application, four-inch line was $1.90 a foot. Now it’s gone up to $5 a foot as an example,” Mooney said.

Mooney said some of the water pipe lines date back to the 60s which has been a burden to the association with leaks and other issues due to the outdated system.

The current work involves installing the line from Old Highway 17 to the eastern end of the county. It will also begin north of Vian in the Sycamore Community.

Lines are also being installed at Dwight Mission Road and other areas, such as Sequoyah Little Farms and in the northern part of the county where there has been significant problems with the current water lines.

The project also includes replacing four pump stations and a water storage tank with a new 330,000 gallon tank and a new 220,000 gallon tank while rehabilitating an existing tank.

In addition, improvements include three large water tanks in Nicut, Rocky Point and at East Lake Hills near Tenkiller, in which Mooney estimated will hold about 350,00 gallons of water each; and four water pumps, two at Dora, one at Fields Chapel and one at State Highways 82 and 100, also near Tenkiller, Mooney said.

“We’re moving right along. We’re just hoping to be finished after the first of the year. That will depend a lot on the weather,” Mooney said.

According to USDA, improvements will correct some low-pressure areas in the water distribution system allowing the water district to serve more of their own customers with water, reduce water purchases by 70 percent and improve operating costs.

“It’ll be great when it’s completed,” Mooney said.

“The water will flow faster and residents won’t have to worry about as many water leaks as in the past. There is a possibility of increased water rates but we’re not looking at that right now,” Mooney said.

Companies providing the construction work are Danny Mitchell Construction of Muldrow, Orr Construction of Davenport, Circle P Construction of Norman and Cook Consulting of Fort Gibson.