Standridge proposal would encourage water conservation, reuse

Legislation recently approved by the Senate Energy Committee would encourage municipalities and water districts to work together on reuse projects to expand the state’s water supply of safe, local water.

Senate Bill 1187, authored by Sen. Rob Standridge, will enable water districts to undertake projects efficiently, if they choose to make reuse a part of their conservation strategy.

“In many areas of the state, reuse is the most viable option for expanding the water supply,” said Standridge, R-Norman. “Conservation and reuse should be cornerstones of our state’s long term vision for water, and this bill supports and enables those efforts. By providing adequate support for water conservation, we can help secure our water needs for years to come.”

The proposal establishes state policy to facilitate reuse efforts, and specifies permitting requirements for projects.

“Strengthening our water infrastructure is vital to improving quality of life, and provides critical support for our economic development efforts,” Standridge said. “This proposal will enable important investments in our water systems, improving our infrastructure throughout the state. The bill does not mandate reuse, but instead encourages water districts to work together to facilitate reuse and conservation efforts.”