Bartlesville looks at Copan Lake to ease its water shortage problem

Thursday, April 18th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Water woes in the Bartlesville area are on the minds of the Oklahoma Legislature. Lawmakers have adopted a resolution encouraging state and federal agencies to find a way to solve the water shortage problem.

Bartlesville and Washington County are under a state of emergency, because the main water source, Hulah Lake is 8 feet below normal. Local leaders are working on alternatives to get the water they need.

Nearby Copan Lake is one option - it's less than three feet below normal. It's roughly the same distance from Bartlesville as Hulah Lake. Copan Lake dumps into the Caney River - which Bartlesville can access for water. But it could be an expensive option.

The problem is price. The Corps of Engineers wants to charge 25 times more for water from Copan - than water from Hulah. City officials will be meeting with the Corps Friday to discuss that option.

The city is still drawing five million gallons a day from Lake Hulah - but that's more than the lake can supply and the situation will get worse without rain.

Mandatory conservation has cut consumption by two million gallons a day.