More Oklahoma communities may join water pact

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Several more communities may join a public trust that's seeking to build an 88-mile pipeline to pump in water from the southern part of the state. <br><br>``We've got enough

Wednesday, October 16th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Several more communities may join a public trust that's seeking to build an 88-mile pipeline to pump in water from the southern part of the state.

``We've got enough cities to go forward,'' Richard Riley, chairman of the Central Oklahoma Water Resource Authority told The Daily Oklahoman on Tuesday.

``And we know that once we begin moving toward finalizing this project, we will no doubt have other communities interested.''

The authority wants to contract with PESA LLC to develop the $200 million pipeline. The water would come from the 500-square-mile Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer, which is the main water source for Ada and Sulphur.

It also feeds the Blue River, which provides water for Durant, along with several creeks and rivers near the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.

Residents from areas surrounding the aquifer, a water-bearing stratum of permeable rock, sand or gravel, have formed a group to fight the pipeline.

Calumet, El Reno, Mustang, Okarche, Union City, Yukon and Canadian County are part of the pact, which is looking for a long-term water source.

Most of the communities, which are in Canadian County, need an additional water supply to either meet growing demand or Environmental Protection Agency standards on water quality that take effect in 2006.

Gary Jackson, managing partner of PESA LLC, said the six cities have entered into a nonbinding agreement for the pipeline. Amounts range from 100,000 gallons per day for Union City and Okarche to nearly 5 million gallons per day for Yukon.

The total project is expected to provide about 11 million gallons per day to the communities, Jackson said. When the project originally was planned, officials were hoping to pipe about 20 million gallons per day.

El Reno joined the project most recently when the city council agreed on Monday to buy 100,000 gallons per day.

Other communities outside Canadian County also are interested in the project, Jackson said. Chickasha is actively negotiating with project officials, he said.

Kingfisher also could be interested in the project. City Manager Jack Graham said city staff is investigating the feasibility of joining the project for future needs.

Some cities have declined PESA's offer. Officials with PESA and the water trust met with Norman officials about joining the project, but City Manager Andy Anderson said joining the pact isn't in Norman's future plans.

``We just don't have that kind of money right now,'' Anderson said. ``And it's not part of our overall plan. So we're just not in a position to go with them.''

Norman's main water supply is Lake Thunderbird, but it also has a line to Oklahoma City so it can buy water in an emergency.