The City of Norman will host a public forum series on sustainable water resources beginning 6 p.m. Thursday inside the Norman City Council Chambers, 201 W. Gray St.
The meeting is free and open to the public, but the city is asking interested parties to call the Utilities Department at 366-5443 to reserve a place and receive an information packet to accompany the presentation.
The first of eight forums, Thursday's meeting will introduce the series and provide an overview of Norman's existing Strategic Water Supply Plan.
The next forum, slated for Jan. 21, will discuss the state of Oklahoma's water plan. Six additional forums will be held in the coming months, wrapping up April 15.
Why all the fuss?
In 2001, the Norman Utilities Authority completed a Strategic Water Supply Plan which estimated the annual average and peak day water demands for the City of Norman service area through the year 2040.
In the past several years, the city says it has made significant strides in reducing peak day demands, reusing wastewater effluent at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, shedding non-potable users, odd/even watering and conservation.
However, officials stress the long-term outlook will still require additional water supplies to accommodate Norman's natural growth.
In 2009, the City of Norman joined other regional municipalities in the development of the 2009 Regional Water Supply Plan for Central Oklahoma. As part of the study, the City of Norman updated the annual average day water demand projections for the current service area to determine the necessary raw water supply augmentation for the entire region.
The city says the study revealed that projected water demands for the region exceeded the sustainable yields of the potential source waters in Central Oklahoma.
Officials also believe there is a need to draw additional raw water from the Kiamichi River Basin, which would require the construction of a 105-mile pipeline and pump station, in parallel with the existing 60-inch City of Oklahoma City pipeline from Stanley Draper Reservoir to Lake Atoka.
The study also indicated an additional pipeline and pump stations will be necessary to obtain additional water rights from Sardis Lake, according to city documents.
For further information about the City of Norman's water series, call the Utilities Department at 366-5443 or visit the city's Web site, www.ci.norman.ok.us.
Local news
Wet and worrisome
Public forums on water start Thursday
- Local news
-
-
Veterans, community remember the fallen
Wesley Carroll lives on, but countless numbers of his friends and family have been laid to rest after their service in conflicts dating as far back as the 18th century....
-
Deputies arrest 10
Cleveland County sheriff’s deputies made 10 arrests in a Saturday night and early Sunday morning saturation patrol....
-
Troopers release name in Thunderbird drowning
Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers have released the deceased’s name in a weekend drowning at Lake Thunderbird....
-
Holiday fun
Sunday wasn’t just another church night at Harvest Church. The church’s pre-Memorial Day fellowship event featured a monster truck show, bike stunts and fireworks, among other things....
-
Volunteers clean up Bishop Creek
Norman’s Bishop Creek is home to a lot more than frogs, turtles and water skimmers, a group of volunteers say....
-
More travelers to hit the road this Memorial Day
NEW YORK — More Americans will hit the road this holiday weekend than a year ago. And they’ll have a bit more money to spend thanks to lower gas prices....
-
OBA names officers
TULSA — Brad Swickey, president and CEO of Valliance Bank in Oklahoma City, was inducted as chairman of the Oklahoma Bankers Association at the OBA’s 115th Leadership Forum and Annual Convention, held May 14 and 15 at the Renaissance Hotel ...
-
Rig count down by 3 to 1,983
HOUSTON — The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. is down three this week to 1,983....
-
Cornerstone Metals Recycling opens in Norman
Cornerstone Metals Recycling has officially opened a recycling facility in Norman at 2350 Industrial Blvd. The facility will provide easy access drive-through for recyclers in the Norman area including South Oklahoma City, Moore and Pauls ...
-
Agriculture Department spurring exports
International Market Development Coordinator Barbara Charlet is constantly finding new ways to introduce Oklahoma’s agricultural products to foreign markets. With 18 years of experience in the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and ...
- More Local news Headlines
-
Veterans, community remember the fallen


