LAWTON – The City Council recently approved three municipal water and sewer infrastructure contracts totaling a little over $7 million.
The largest was a $6,469,870 contract awarded to Southwest Water Works of Oklahoma City for construction of approximately 32,000 linear feet (6 miles) of replacement water mains ranging in size from 8 inches to 12 inches in diameter. Those “high maintenance” waterlines are on the west side of town: between 38th Street and Sheridan Road, and between Cache Road and Rogers Lane.
The project will be funded with proceeds from a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan, city records indicate.
The project will be among the 26 miles of new water lines in Lawton already built, under construction, or in the planning and design stage, according to Mayor Stan Booker.
City officials are hopeful that water main replacement projects will improve water delivery through town and reduce the number of waterline breaks. The Water Distribution Department responded to 811 water main breaks in calendar year 2023, and repaired 512 waterline breaks between Jan. 1 and Aug. 27 this year, according to Caitlin Gatlin, the city’s communications director.
The council also approved a contract with Primary Structure, of Guthrie, to provide large precast concrete manholes which are “essential for the ability to replace and repair sewer lines,” Public Utilities Director Rusty Whisenhunt said. The estimated yearly expenditure will be $80,000, he said.
The City of Lawton reports having replaced 150 miles of sewer lines over the past decade or longer.
Also approved was a change order that added $527,851 and 90 calendar days to the Phase 1 improvement projects at the 47-year-old sewage treatment plant. Three unserviceable blowers will be demolished and four new blowers will be purchased, raising the final contract amount to $85,345,473.
Blowers are typically used at wastewater treatment plants to provide aeration and promote aerobic digestion.
City officials asked the state Department of Environmental Quality for an extension to complete the Phase I projects, which would result in a new completion date in late 2025.