Ribbon cutting ceremony held for City’s west-side booster pump station

City leaders and community members gathered to celebrate a major infrastructure milestone as the City of Guthrie and the Guthrie Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting for the newly rehabilitated West Side Booster Pump Station.

The project, funded through the Growing Guthrie Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Sales Tax #2 approved by voters in 2024, addresses long-standing water pressure concerns for residents, businesses, and schools on the west side of town.

“This is an important piece of our infrastructure system, the water distribution system,” City Manager Eddie Faulkner said during the ceremony. “The booster pump station’s most consistent goal is to bring water pressure to the west side of Guthrie. Without this very critical piece, the west side would struggle immensely.”

The upgraded station replaces aging equipment that had caused inconsistent flow and low pressure in the area. With the improvements, the system is now capable of delivering significantly higher and more reliable water output.

Mayor Adam Ropp emphasized the broader impact of the project, calling it a reflection of community investment.

“We think that this represents reliability and growth, which it does,” Ropp said. “But most importantly, this represents a community that is willing to invest in its own future.”

Public Works Director Tenny Maker detailed the dramatic increase in capacity, noting the previous system relied on two small pumps producing about 250 gallons per minute each, while the new station operates three pumps capable of producing approximately 1,500 gallons per minute.

“That’s a huge improvement,” Maker said, pointing to increased water pressure, improved fire protection capabilities, and the ability to support continued growth on the west side.

City officials also highlighted the importance of infrastructure projects that often go unnoticed until problems arise.

“A lot of these things are things you don’t think about until it’s not working,” Faulkner said. “And when it’s not working, it’s everything.”

Chamber President Brittany Timmons echoed that sentiment, noting that while infrastructure upgrades may not always be highly visible, they are essential to the community’s long-term success.

With the completion of the booster pump station, city leaders say Guthrie is better positioned to meet current demands and future growth, while delivering more consistent and dependable water service to the west side.