The Transcript article about Norman’s future water supply.

[ou48A]

On the day that we started mandatory water restrictions in the middle of winter this seems like an urgent issue for a growing city.


Planning for Norman?s future water supply » Headlines » The Norman Transcript

[ou48A]

Ideas, solutions, and thoughts.

Drill as many wells as possible for a stop gap measure.


How could we expand the use of Gray water? We could identify places of high irrigation. As we dig up major streets for reconstruction it might be possible to install gray water lines that could eventually service more customers who could use gray water.


In the long run secure and develop a large new water source.


Should Norman really be spending millions of dollars on a luxury like a new park when we have fundamental basic needs for increased water supply?

[Dubya61]

Would the Elm Creek Reservoir service only OKC?

[venture]

Drill as many wells as possible for a stop gap measure.

The underground water sources are only going to have so much supply, you can't drill out of this.

How could we expand the use of Gray water? We could identify places of high irrigation. As we dig up major streets for reconstruction it might be possible to install gray water lines that could eventually service more customers who could use gray water.

Gray water will help, but that is a lot of extra cost that you are going to ask Norman residents to pay on their utility bills.

In the long run secure and develop a large new water source.

This is probably the best option. We need to evaluate areas, if there are any along the Canadian River and such, that we can dam up and create more storage areas for water. Not to mention just the overall impact of having a full river will have on property values and such.

Should Norman really be spending millions of dollars on a luxury like a new park when we have fundamental basic needs for increased water supply?

Should Norman be approving new developments on the fringes of town that require resources when that money should stick to the urban core to upgrade services? The city is still going to have to move forward with development. Maybe we just need to make sure that anyone North of Tecumseh south to the River and between West 48th and East 36th aren't connected to the Norman water system. If you want to live there, dig a well. Stupid? Absolutely. Just like putting any other developments on hold for this.

That whole cutting off one's nose thing.

[ou48A]

The underground water sources are only going to have so much supply, you can't drill out of this.



Gray water will help, but that is a lot of extra cost that you are going to ask Norman residents to pay on their utility bills.



This is probably the best option. We need to evaluate areas, if there are any along the Canadian River and such, that we can dam up and create more storage areas for water. Not to mention just the overall impact of having a full river will have on property values and such.



Should Norman be approving new developments on the fringes of town that require resources when that money should stick to the urban core to upgrade services? The city is still going to have to move forward with development. Maybe we just need to make sure that anyone North of Tecumseh south to the River and between West 48th and East 36th aren't connected to the Norman water system. If you want to live there, dig a well. Stupid? Absolutely. Just like putting any other developments on hold for this.

That whole cutting off one's nose thing.

The underground water sources are only going to have so much supply; you can't drill out of this.

Drilling new water wells is probably the cheapest and quickest fix but it clearly isn’t going to be the solution, but it will help.

QUOTE=venture79;610148]Gray water will help, but that is a lot of extra cost that you are going to ask Norman residents to pay on their utility bills. .[/QUOTE] It would be a very slow process to expand and lines would only be run to major consumers. I suppose small users could use the service if they had a gray water line close enough to them. For example if someone lived next to a major city owned gray water line and wanted to water their yard with it that seems like it should be ok.

QUOTE=venture79;610148]This is probably the best option. We need to evaluate areas, if there are any along the Canadian River and such, that we can dam up and create more storage areas for water. Not to mention just the overall impact of having a full river will have on property values and such. .[/QUOTE]
The quality of Canadian River water is very poor and would require some very expensive equipment to clean up the water. I can tell you that I have lived in a place where Canadian river water was used from Lake Meredith in the Texas panhandle and it was terrible.
QUOTE=venture79;610148]Should Norman be approving new developments on the fringes of town that require resources when that money should stick to the urban core to upgrade services? The city is still going to have to move forward with development. Maybe we just need to make sure that anyone North of Tecumseh south to the River and between West 48th and East 36th aren't connected to the Norman water system. If you want to live there, dig a well. Stupid? Absolutely. Just like putting any other developments on hold for this. That whole cutting off one's nose thing.[/QUOTE]
Like it or not the development on the city’s fringes is going to continue unabated so we might as well concentrate on workable solutions. But over time the vacant areas will slowly fill in. New construction pays a $4000 sewage hookup fee. I am not sure, but new construction might also pay higher water rates.

[YO MUDA]

Being a Gardner at OU, everyear I hear complaints about OUs use of water. Just remember we have our own wells. Regardless, most of us tone down our water usage during the summer to only keeping shrubs, trees and flower beds alive.

[Dubya61]

Being a Gardner at OU, everyear I hear complaints about OUs use of water. Just remember we have our own wells. Regardless, most of us tone down our water usage during the summer to only keeping shrubs, trees and flower beds alive.

Do those wells magically only take water that's under OU and magically not deplete the water other wells may be able to use?

[ou48A]

Being a Gardner at OU, everyear I hear complaints about OUs use of water. Just remember we have our own wells. Regardless, most of us tone down our water usage during the summer to only keeping shrubs, trees and flower beds alive.

Doesn’t OU use gray water for part of it needs?
In your estimation how hard would it be to expand gray water usage on OU’s campus?

[venture]

Do those wells magically only take water that's under OU and magically not deplete the water other wells may be able to use?

Exactly. I remember growing up before we had city water and some idiot would be watering their entire yard and drained the water table. Had to redrill the well to get to a better water source.

[ou48A]

Do those wells magically only take water that's under OU and magically not deplete the water other wells may be able to use?

It almost entirely depends on the geology and recharge rates of the aquifer in question.
FYI This water is being pumped from the Garber-Wellington aquifer.

[Bunty]

Norman needs to do the same as Stillwater did years ago. Find a man made lake kept fed by a major river and build a 3 ft. wide pipeline to it.

[venture]

Norman needs to do the same as Stillwater did years ago. Find a man made lake kept fed by a major river and build a 3 ft. wide pipeline to it.

If you haven't noticed, there aren't many of those in this state. LOL

[ou48A]

Norman needs to do the same as Stillwater did years ago. Find a man made lake kept fed by a major river and build a 3 ft. wide pipeline to it.

Which major river would that be? and what lake is this?

[yellowfever13]

venture79, I am trying to contact you. I guess you have disabled any messaging on this forum. If you could email me at chadwilliamson1@gmail.com I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks very much!

[Bunty]

Which major river would that be? and what lake is this?

deleted

[Bunty]

Which major river would that be? and what lake is this?

The only major river in Oklahoma is the Arkansas, the 6th longest one in the nation. The reservoir is Kaw Lake, which would probably be too far away and costly for Norman to build a pipeline to it. Interesting that the water level at Kaw Lake is only 6 inches below normal.

[TAlan CB]

The Red River is considered a major river by Geographers (only 100mile shorter than the Arkansas), but the water is too salty until it enters the far southeast of Oklahoma. There has been a "final" settlement on the border between OK&TX, and so the rivers' meandering is now "in and out" of both states. But, this aside, the Red is predominately in Oklahoma, historically the border was the southern bank. Recently, Dallas and N.Tx have been trying to purchase water from SE OK - Hugo Lake, etc. Thunderbird (Norman) needs to build a pipeline from there. Draper gets its water from Atoka Res. These rivers in SE OK enter the Red making it fresher water. Texoma is considered non-potable for dinking purpose.

Don't let the large Arkansas River entering the next state fool you, in recent years it has been entering Oklahoma from Kansas nearly dry. The Canadian(s), Neosho and Illinois River rivers turn the Arkansas into a major river in the east.
The same happens to the Red, with the Kiamichi River, Blue, and Muddy Boggy turning the Red into a major river before it leaves the state. These tributary rivers in SE Ok are untouched by large cities and this is what Dallas is after.

[Bunty]

Thanks for some interesting insight. Lake Eufaula is much bigger and closer than Hugo Lake. Is it no better than Texoma? Edmond is better positioned to tap onto Kaw Lake, which is much bigger than Hugo Lake.

[YO MUDA]

Doesn’t OU use gray water for part of it needs?
In your estimation how hard would it be to expand gray water usage on OU’s campus?

Yes sir we use non potable water for landscape. Your other question is above my pay grade and my education as well.

[ou48A]

The Red River is considered a major river by Geographers (only 100mile shorter than the Arkansas), but the water is too salty until it enters the far southeast of Oklahoma. There has been a "final" settlement on the border between OK&TX, and so the rivers' meandering is now "in and out" of both states. But, this aside, the Red is predominately in Oklahoma, historically the border was the southern bank. Recently, Dallas and N.Tx have been trying to purchase water from SE OK - Hugo Lake, etc. Thunderbird (Norman) needs to build a pipeline from there. Draper gets its water from Atoka Res. These rivers in SE OK enter the Red making it fresher water. Texoma is considered non-potable for dinking purpose.

Don't let the large Arkansas River entering the next state fool you, in recent years it has been entering Oklahoma from Kansas nearly dry. The Canadian(s), Neosho and Illinois River rivers turn the Arkansas into a major river in the east.
The same happens to the Red, with the Kiamichi River, Blue, and Muddy Boggy turning the Red into a major river before it leaves the state. These tributary rivers in SE Ok are untouched by large cities and this is what Dallas is after.

Good post^

Norman and the entire OKC area is going to grow probably well beyond what any of us can image.
I agree that the best long term option is the water in SE Oklahoma. But we should act before Texas has a chance to get their hand on this very high quality water.

[ou48A]

As water in the USA becomes a more valuable commodity having a good supply of very high quality water would give our area an advantage in attracting new business to our area.

I would like to see a major new water pipeline built that would be shared by several municipalities.
Our grand kids and beyond will thank us.

[ou48A]

Yes sir we use non potable water for landscape. Your other question is above my pay grade and my education as well.

Thanks.
I hope OU and the city of Norman are looking at ways that could expand the usage of gray water.

The sewage plant in Moore is located just north of Norman. Maybe its gray water could be piped to parts of Norman, if they would agree and are not using it?

[ou48A]

The only major river in Oklahoma is the Arkansas, the 6th longest one in the nation. The reservoir is Kaw Lake, which would probably be too far away and costly for Norman to build a pipeline to it. Interesting that the water level at Kaw Lake is only 6 inches below normal.

During heavy rains the Arkansas River picks up a lot of salt near Hutchinson Kansas…
It also picks up a lot of farm pollution run off….

I use to swim and fish in Kaw Lake but I stopped when I realized that that the toilet content of my numerous Kansas relatives
was in that lake.

Note to self, drink only bottled water while in Stillwater.

[venture]

Note to self, drink only bottled water while in Stillwater.

Stoolwater in Stillwater?

I really think at some point we need to start building more water reservoirs in this state. From what I keep hearing, SE OK is the best place for that to happen. We don't have the luxury of the Great Lakes to feed us fresh drinking water, but whose to say we can' expand our own lake system to help compensate.

[ou48A]

I really think at some point we need to start building more water reservoirs in this state. From what I keep hearing, SE OK is the best place for that to happen. We don't have the luxury of the Great Lakes to feed us fresh drinking water, but whose to say we can' expand our own lake system to help compensate.

I agree with you about the need to build more reservoirs in Oklahoma.

However finding enough money won’t be easy. But much tougher would be to overcome all the new environmental laws and regulations in place. The Endangered Species Act needs to be reformed because it’s made it very difficult to construct new dams.



On the link below is an article disusing difficulties along with a map of potential Oklahoma dam sites.

The Barriers to Another Reservoir Building Boom in Oklahoma | StateImpact Oklahoma