For The Transcript
The House of Representatives passed Fourth District Congressman Tom Cole's bill Monday to authorize $900,000 to administer a water feasibility study in order to find future water sources for Norman, Midwest City and Del City.
Now it's on to the Senate.
"This was a critical step in the process of securing water resources for cities in central Oklahoma," Cole said in a prepared statement. "Because these areas are growing rapidly, the demand for additional water is only going to get greater as time goes on. I believe it is vital that these needs are anticipated early so that Oklahomans will have access to water as they need it. I am pleased that this legislation has passed the House, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law."?
H.R. 1337 directs the commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation to conduct a feasibility study of the amount of water used by the Central Oklahoma Master Conservatory District and the cities served by it.
The study would include possible proposals for drilling additional wells, increasing the storage capacity of Lake Thunderbird and transporting surplus water from outside sources. The primary source of water for the COMCD is Lake Thunderbird.
Over the past several years, the City of Norman has exceeded its annual share of allotted water from the lake.
Cole said he hopes the study will enhance the current and long-term water needs of COMCD and the cities it serves.
The bill is expected to be voted on in the Senate in the near future, officials in Cole's office said.
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