Environmental Federation of Oklahoma
The City of Oklahoma CityThe City of Oklahoma CityUtilities DepartmentUtilities Department
October 2, 2008
“Water Transfer” Is Not a Pejorative Term!
Providing exceptional utility service . . .
. . . for over 100 years!
“Bring your own bucket”
Santa Fe Street and the Railroad Depot
1889: 1 well
1900: 19 wells
Capacity: 1 million gallons/day
On the river, 1 mile south of business district
1910: Overholser Treatment Plant
1920: City Reservoir (Lake Overholser)
1926: Southside Wastewater
Treatment Plant
1947: Lake Hefner Dam
& Treatment Plant
1960s: Atoka Lake & Pipeline
Draper Lake
Draper Water Treatment Plant
To today – 5,100 miles of water and sewer main
From 1889 – 1 well
Imagine life without Water?
There would be too little water for fire protection . . .
. . . no clean tap water . . .
. . . and no wastewater disposal.
We provide quality-of-life and public health services, in the most cost-effective/efficient manner.
We provide the ability for a community to not only exist, but to grow and grow and grow!
Why Grow?
Reason - Quality of Life
“The best measure of a society’s economic well-being is its per capital personal income (PCPI)” – Office of State Finance
Urban communities experience a higher PCPI than smaller communities even after taking into account cost of living differences
Why Water Transfer?Reason - Drought & Future Demands
Oklahoma Experience - at least 6 notable serious extended droughts since statehood (USGS)
Earlier Droughts - marked by the inability of the state and its communities to overcome the effects of drought resulting in substantial adverse effects on landowners and mass exodus of people from the state
Later Droughts - more tolerated, state benefitted greatly from newer major water supply impoundment and delivery systems
Date Area
1929-41 Statewide
1951-57 Statewide
1961-72 Statewide
1975-82 Statewide
1984-86 Southwestern
How Should We Determine Who
Transfers?
State Law – “as such water then becomes public water and is subject to appropriation for the benefit and
welfare of the people of the state”
Demonstrated Beneficial Use Need – Oklahoma City Consolidated Statistical Area is 35% of Oklahoma Population and growing 1.5 to 2 Percent annually
1958 – OKC Consolidated Statistical Area 27% of State Population
2008 – 35% of State Population
1,277,500 Population
Financially Feasible – OCWUT just rated AAA by Standard &Poor’s
Technologically Feasible – OKC has demonstrated the capability since early 1960’s
Arcadia
LakeThunderbird
Stanley Draper Shawnee Twin Lakes
Oklahoma City
Norman
Edmond
Moore
Del CityMidwest City
MustangCOWRA
Shawnee
Chickasha
Seminole
Kiam
ichi R
iver
Sardis S1
S2Moyers Crossing
Highway 3S3
Hugo
S4
AtokaC1
McGee Creek
C2
C3Buffer Tank
Draper WTP
New Regional WTP
New Local WTP
Existing WTP
Existing Treated PipelineProposed Treated PipelineProposed Raw Water PipelineProposed Treated Pipeline (Regional)Existing Atoka Raw Water Pipeline
Existing Open Channel Conveyance
Existing Pump StationProposed Pump Station
Proposed Atoka Raw Water Pipeline
Existing Reservoir
Possible Next PhaseOverall Project Schematic
OKCWorks Cooperatively
And Will Continue – Into the FutureLake Sardis
Keeps Up With the Times - Technology
Increasing use of technology, coupled with appropriate resources is enhancing our ability to improve customer service, efficiency, safety, regulatory monitoring and compliance, and operational performance.
Makes Capital Investments – Adjusts Service Charges, Approves & Implements New Capital Plans
Showing a commitment to make the tough financial decisions to fund capital investments needed to prevent system deterioration, meet new service demands and satisfy customer expectations
Shows Courage – Rising to New Challenges
Ensuring reliable, safe & qualified workforce for delivering customer service
• Regulatory compliance & technical competency training programs
• Workforce succession plans
• Disaster Recovery Planning
Taking Care of Our Customers – Highly Rated
• 83% satisfied or very satisfied with water services – 2008 survey
• New or expanded wholesale contracts yearly
Award Winning Water Quality
AWWA National Taste Test - “Best of the Best” in North America in 2007 by the American Water Works Association
AWWA Regional SW Section regularly win taste test
Providing…
And we’ll continue to do so for generations to come.
. . . a refreshing, clean place to live, work and play