The Poteau Valley Improvement Authority was established as a State of Oklahoma trust in 1969 for “public purposes and functions,” specifically, “To institute, furnish, provide and supply…any or all improvements, services, and physical facilities, except gas and electric utilities, for safeguarding of public health, the protection of persons and property, and the conservation and implementation of public welfare…”
Since its inception PVIA’s mission has focused on producing and distributing potable water for the benefit of the residents, communities, and businesses of the Poteau Valley region—as reflected in its motto: “Oklahoma Quality Water.” Today, PVIA supplies water to over 45,000 people through 16 member municipalities and rural water districts.
PVIA’s activities are guided by its Board of Trustees. In addition to an Executive Board elected at large, each member organization provides one board member. The list of current trustees may be viewed here.
The Board meets monthly, on the first Tuesday of each month. To review the agenda for the next Board meeting, or meeting notes from past months, click here.
Since Lake Wister is the source of the water PVIA treats and distributes, protecting and restoring the quality of that water is a major activity of the PVIA Board. PVIA also seeks to be a good steward of the region’s natural resources and a good neighbor to all who live and work here. As such they support the conservation and restoration of Lake Wister for everyone–for healthy fish and wildlife, safe and pleasant recreation, and for the regional economic benefits a clean, healthy lake can generate. Learn more about PVIA’s activities at Lake Wister here.
Meanwhile, PVIA’s water treatment activities continue to successfully produce safe drinking water for its members and their customers.