Published: June 19, 2009 10:29 pm      

Let Texas pay: Oklahoma’s water provides opportunity

To the Editor:

After reading the article, “City Looks at Water Options,” it is clear Oklahoma must address the lack of water infrastructure if we stand any chance to make sure Edmond can meet its water needs for the balance of this century. Oklahoma has plenty of water — more than 10 times the amount we use, with the rest just flowing downstream into Arkansas and Texas. The big question posed in the story was how Oklahoma will pay for much needed infrastructure to move water from one area of the state to another area. One expert pegged the costs for a new pump station and pipeline at between $1 billion and $2 billion. We don’t have that type of money in Oklahoma even when our energy industry is hitting on all cylinders. Bonding costs to generate that type of money will strain existing customers.

There is an answer. Monetize our “excess” water like we do our natural gas. Sell it and use the money for water projects likes lakes, pipes, pumps, treatment plants and whatever else our state needs for economic advancement.

Texas wants to buy our excess water. They’d pay millions every year for it from now on. If we had started selling Texas water several years ago we might have several hundred millions in the bank for our state today.

Everyone knows we have a hard time in Oklahoma just funding essentials like education and health care, much less the economic infrastructure beyond roads and bridges. We should make sure Oklahoma’s water needs are taken care of first and then let Texas pay, and use Texas money to make Oklahoma better and stronger.

The water is going to Texas anyway, why not put a meter on it and charge them for it?

Hopper T. Smith

Edmond

HOPPER T. SMITH is president of Strategic Resource Consulting, which represents Tarrant Regional Water District.