Officials tour Lake Eucha-Spavinaw watershed

Friday, May 3rd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

More than 400,000 customers in the Tulsa area get their water from Lake Eucha. And the Lake Eucha-Spavinaw watershed is getting the attention of lawmakers, and environmentalists.

First District Congressman John Sullivan teamed up with the Environmental Protection Agency Thursday for a first hand look at a pollution problem plaguing the city's main water supply.

Five months ago, the City of Tulsa filed suit against six poultry producers for the foul smell and taste of the water. They blame it on run-off waste-water from area chicken farms. Congressman John Sullivan: "It's a huge issue that needs to be addressed and again ti's a multi-jurisdictional issue." Gregg Cooke, EPA Region 6 director: "We'll have to work with the state's of Arkansas and Oklahoma with water quality standards with relation to phosphorous to try to deal with this issue."

City officials say Tulsa's water is safe to drink. But the price to treat rising phosphorous levels is getting more expensive.