Senator Hosts First Meeting to Resolve Water Issues

State Senator Richard Lerblance (D-Hartshorne) held a meeting today with the Oklahoma Rural Water Association and the Oklahoma Municipal League in an effort to address water rights issues.

The meeting was a result of a bill that Senator Lerblance filed at the beginning of the legislative session. There have been long-term problems between rural water districts and municipalities as to who has the water rights when expansion is necessary.

“In today’s meeting we identified and addressed long-standing issues essentially deemed as turf wars,” said Senator Lerblance. “Hopefully the on-going talks between the Rural Water Association and the Municipal League will save rural water districts and municipalities thousands of dollars in litigation fees.”

“Turf wars” occur when a municipality begins to grow and the need for water rights grow. The municipality then expands upon rural water districts and there is confusion as to who gets the rights to the water.

“This has been a long-standing issue that we intend to address and find an outcome that can appease everyone involved. My main goal is to ensure that the consumer receives quality water at a reasonable price,” stated Lerblance.

The next meeting is scheduled for April 8, 2004 again at the State Capital.