Norman council approves final plat for $8.5 million groundwater treatment facility
The plant will add disinfectant to water from the city's wells, which serve about 30% of Norman. Construction is set to begin in early 2027.
NORMAN - The Norman City Council on Oct. 27 approved the final plat for the city's $8.5 million Groundwater Treatment Facility, according to a city news release posted Oct. 29. Construction should begin in the first quarter of 2027, the release says.
The facility will add disinfectant to water drawn from the city's municipal wells so Norman fully meets Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality rules requiring a disinfectant residual throughout the distribution system, according to the city. About 30% of the city, mostly homes and businesses in north Norman, gets water that starts in those wells. Norman draws groundwater from about 40 wells and surface water from Lake Thunderbird and Lake Stanley Draper.
Water rate increases that voters approved in 2015 and 2023 pay for the land and construction, the release says, and utilities staff have met with nearby neighbors about the design.
The health and safety of our utility customers is always our topmost priority. (Nathan Madenwald, Norman utilities engineer)
The release also notes that a 2020-22 pilot on returning highly treated wastewater to Lake Thunderbird had favorable results, but the city is not pursuing it now, largely because of cost.