The Water Resources Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a contract with S2 Engineering to conduct a study on the water quality, feasibility, and costs associated with obtaining water from Kaw Lake. The lake, located approximately 50 miles west of Bartlesville in Kay County, has rights to approximately 40 million gallons of water per day available.
“When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducted the Planning Assistance to States Study (PASS) in 2006, the estimated cost for the City to acquire water from Kaw Lake was approximately $106 million,” said Water Utilities Director Terry Lauritsen. “Adjusted for today’s costs, that number would likely be more in the range of $150 million. However, for us to have an accurate number on this, a cost analysis is necessary.”
The study will also indicate whether the water quality is compatible with the City’s water treatment system and identify any challenges that could could arise from pumping water from the lake to the City-owned Hudson Lake, from where it would be pumped to the Water Treatment Plant for distribution.
The study is expected to take about five months to complete.
City Manager Mike Bailey advised the committee that City staff met with representatives from the Osage Nation last month about the possibility of partnering in an effort to secure water from Kaw Lake.
“The short answer is yes, they are interested in a potential partnership in the future; however, no commitments were made and they were clear that there are no resources available for the project at this time,” Bailey said. “I think our next step in moving those talks forward is to obtain the cost analysis (from S2 Engineering).”
The committee also heard updates on the City’s ongoing efforts to reallocate water designated as flood control to water supply at Hulah and Copan lakes — the least costly and most effective option for securing approximately an additional 20 million gallons of water per day.
“We corresponded with USACOE representatives who recommended the City pursue the State’s Planning Assistance to States program to pursue reallocation at the lakes,” Lauritsen said. “And we did that, but we were notified recently that our application has been denied because it doesn’t fit with (USACOE’s) program. We will continue our efforts with the Corps to determine the proper course of action to pursue reallocation of flood control to water supply.”
Lauritsen said another option, obtaining water from the Ada-Vamoosa Aquifer, is still being explored.
“It is unclear how much yield would be available at the aquifer,” he said. “I have reached out to a consultant to inquire about assistance to determine this.”
For more information about the City’s water supply and drought management program, see www.cityofbartlesville.org.