Oklahoma Ground Water Association News

KOSU: Senate Energy Committee advances $50 million water infrastructure bill, low-interest loan program

Josh McClintock — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:11:14 GMT

Published February 9, 2026 at 5:00 AM CST

Among the largest single recurring budget requests before lawmakers this year is the Oklahoma Water Resources Board’s $50 million investment into fixing the state’s dire water infrastructure needs. One state senator hopes his bill will jumpstart the work.

Officials with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, or OWRB, estimate the state’s water infrastructure crisis will cost taxpayers up to $24 billion by 2030.

Read the full article

The Frontier: A fragile aquifer, a proposed mine and a fight over Oklahoma’s water

Josh McClintock — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 03:39:50 GMT

By Kayla Branch
kayla@readfrontier.com

State regulators are reviewing a proposal to expand sand mining over the Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer, despite Oklahoma’s moratorium on new mines in the area.

January 8, 2026

Michael Hearrell worries that a proposed mine two miles his home will dry up his water well.

Hearrell, a retired pilot, has lived around Roff, a town of just over 600 outside of Ada, his whole life. The town is dotted with a few gas stations, a senior center and a short Main Street that is home to the public school. Roff is also surrounded by mining operations, thanks to the sand reserves nearby.

Read the full article here.

Mesa Water Project to meet demand in Guymon, OK

Josh McClintock — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 20:53:23 GMT

By Kristin Rodin

Published: Oct. 20, 2025 at 11:28 AM CDT

GUYMON, Okla. (KFDA) - In Guymon, Oklahoma, the city is currently constructing the Mesa Water Project.

The project will secure Guymon and Texas County water for decades to come following water scarcity issues. We’re shining the Community Spotlight on the project.

You can listen to the full interview on the KFDA website at https://www.newschannel10.com/2025/10/20/mesa-water-project-meet-demand-guymon-ok/

Stitt declares environmental emergency in Caddo County after saltwater purge

Josh McClintock — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 18:21:03 GMT

By Chloe Bennett-Steele | StateImpact Oklahoma

Published October 9, 2025 at 7:33 AM CDT

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is using emergency funds to help remediate the site at Five Mile Creek. A trench and pit were dug to collect the fluid and divert it away from water bodies.

Wildlife and a number of cattle were reported to have died on private property near Colony and Eakly after the contamination, according to a document filed with the OCC in mid-September.

A letter from Gov. Kevin Stitt, issued in response to the pollution, authorized the agency to use emergency funds to remediate the site. Tanker trucks are hauling away the diverted fluid to avoid other water contamination.

Read the full article here.

Caddo County Saltwater Leak Linked to Cattle Deaths

Josh McClintock — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 19:57:42 GMT

OK Energy Today

October 1, 2025

Saltwater leaking into a creek might have been what caused the deaths of 25 head of cattle earlier this month in Caddo County, Oklahoma.

Corporation Commission investigators discovered the saltwater was purging into Five Mile Creek from a site two miles upstream from the farmer’s livestock. The Commission asked two oil-and-gas operators close to the purge “to shut in their gas wells” on September 16, reported the Southwest Ledger.

Read full article here

Oklahoma lawmakers push to halt biosolid use amid health concerns

Josh McClintock — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 14:27:09 GMT

by Robert Hagan | OKC Fox25

Mon, September 22nd 2025 at 11:05 PM

Oklahoma City, Okla. — An Oklahoma lawmaker is intensifying efforts to halt the use of biosolids, also known as humanure, as fertilizer on farmland due to health concerns linked to "forever chemicals."

Representative Jim Shaw has been vocal about the potential risks, stating, "We here in Oklahoma as a legislative body haven't somehow figured out that this is a legitimate risk to food production, to clean water, and to the benefit of the overall health of the state of Oklahoma."

Read the full article here.

Oklahoma rancher fears contaminated water is killing his cattle

Josh McClintock — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 14:10:23 GMT

An investigation is underway in western Oklahoma after a rancher reported that contaminated water may be responsible for the deaths of his cattle.

By Meghan Mosley | KOCO News 5

6:08 PM CDT Sep 18, 2025

EAKLY, Okla. — An investigation is underway in western Oklahoma after rancher Mike Loula reported that contaminated water along Five Mile Creek, near Eakly, may be responsible for the deaths of his cattle, threatening his livelihood.

"First, I noticed right here before they dug the pit, there was a hole and it was just setting there bubbling, and boiling, and that’s when I kinda decided it's going in the creek somewhere, but we gotta find it," Loula said.

Northwest Oklahoma farmers and ranchers face new state water restrictions

Josh McClintock — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 15:16:40 GMT

OK Energy Today

Published September 15, 2025

A plan by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to cut the amount of water farmers and ranchers in northwestern Oklahoma can use drew users to a recent public hearing in Mooreland.

The hearing focused on the board’s first major update to groundwater permit limits since 1983 and drew the attention of several farmers and ranchers from Major and Harper counties. The change was the result of decreasing supplies of groundwater in northwest Oklahoma.

The new plan will cut allocations for new groundwater permits from one acre-foot per acre a year to half that amount. It was the result of decreasing supplies of groundwater in northwest Oklahoma. But some landowners are critical of the new plan.

The Woodward News pointed out that existing groundwater permits won’t be affected but those drilling new water wells will face tighter restrictions.

Click here for Woodward News

Farmers weigh in as Oklahoma Water Board considers new groundwater limits

Josh McClintock — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 17:22:58 GMT

(Note to readers...The complete text of the article is located behind the pay wall on the website for The Woodward News. OGWA purchased a copy of the article, but we are prohibited by The Woodward News' Terms of Use from reusing, reposting, or redistributing this article without written consent. Those interested in reading the full article may do so by purchasing the article at a cost of $0.99 from The Woodward News by clicking here.)

By Amanda Parks, Staff Writer | The Woodward News

Published September 13, 2025

WOODWARD, Okla. — Farmers and ranchers from Mooreland and across Major and Harper counties packed a public hearing this week as the Oklahoma Water Resources Board reviewed its first major update to groundwater permit limits since 1983.

At issue: a proposed order that would cut allocations for new groundwater permits from one acre-foot per acre annually to about half that amount. The change comes after a long-anticipated update to the agency’s maximum annual yield study for the Beaver-North Canadian River groundwater basin.

Oklahoma company validates nearly 100% destruction of PFAS chemicals

Josh McClintock — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 14:43:11 GMT

OK Energy Today

September 10, 2025

NORIT Activated Carbon (NORIT), a global leader in purification technologies with an operation located in Pryor, Oklahoma has validated that its thermal reactivation process is capable of consistently achieving 99.98% destruction of PFAS compounds in spent granular activated carbon from municipal water treatment applications.

The Oklahoma Panhandle's biggest city doesn't have enough water. That's about to change.

Josh McClintock — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 21:46:07 GMT

KOSU | By Graycen Wheeler

Published September 2, 2025 at 5:15 AM CDT

In early July, one of the hottest stretches this summer, one of Guymon’s city water wells clunked to a halt.

Not just any well — this was Well Number 21, the city’s best well. The one that pumps a quarter of the water Guymon uses each day.

Oklahoma lawmakers to tackle dark money, water and artificial intelligence during the interim

Josh McClintock — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 16:34:57 GMT

Barbara Haberock, Oklahoma Voice

July 25, 2025

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma House during the interim will take a look at dark money in elections, abandoned medical marijuana facilities and water depletion.

Those are just a few of the 127 House interim studies that will be held.

EPA reduction-in-force plan causes concern about Ada research center

Josh McClintock — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 18:48:23 GMT

KGOU | By Chloe Bennett-Steele, StateImpact Oklahoma

Published July 22, 2025 at 8:29 AM CDT

On Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency said it will eliminate the Office of Research and Development and reduce its workforce.

The termination includes the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center in Ada, which has undergone reductions-in-force in recent months.

An oil spill 33 years ago has led to a new groundwater restriction in OKC. What happened?

Josh McClintock — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 19:29:29 GMT

Richard Mize, The Oklahoman

July 15, 2025

Crude oil spills — and gasoline, diesel and motor oil spills — can have a long shelf life, 33 years in this case. The pollution recently bubbled to the surface of the public record, although the extent of the spill, and the kind of petroleum product it was, could not be determined.

The Oklahoman: While some warn of groundwater depletion in Oklahoma, efforts to tighten monitoring fail again

Josh McClintock — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:34:03 GMT

Kayla Branch, The Frontier

June 22, 2025

Efforts to more accurately track commercial groundwater use in Oklahoma failed again this year at the Legislature after facing tight deadlines and some pushback from agricultural interests.

Oklahoma Watch: Tom Cole Fights Against EPA Budget Cuts for His District

Josh McClintock — Fri, 23 May 2025 18:46:52 GMT

by Em Luetkemeyer

May 22, 2025

The Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts billions in Environmental Protection Agency funds, but Rep. Tom Cole, the top appropriator in the House, doesn’t want environmental research in his district to become collateral damage.

The Journal Record: EPA announces rollback for some Biden-era limits on ‘forever chemicals’

Josh McClintock — Thu, 15 May 2025 16:26:57 GMT

The Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that it plans to weaken limits on some “forever chemicals” in drinking water that were finalized last year, while maintaining standards for two common ones.

The Oklahoman: Oklahoma City is sinking. Here's why, and what other US cities are sinking

Josh McClintock — Sat, 10 May 2025 19:41:47 GMT

Doyle Rice and Jana Hayes, The Oklahoman

May 9, 2025

A new study raised concerns for the 28 most populous cities in the United States, most of which are sinking a small amount each year.

KOSU: Orphan oil wells dotting Oklahoma aquifers could pose risks to groundwater quality

Josh McClintock — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 19:45:23 GMT

KOSU | By Graycen Wheeler

Published April 24, 2025 at 4:59 AM CDT

Oklahomans get more than half the water they use from aquifers. But the same areas that hold those underground water supplies are also sprinkled with orphan oil wells.

High Plains Journal: Oklahoma Well Owner Network to host ‘Get Well-Informed’ free water testing day

Josh McClintock — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 22:58:31 GMT

Author: Breanna Barker, Oklahoma Water Resources Center

April 08, 2025

The Oklahoma Well Owner Network program, offered through Oklahoma State University Extension and OSU’s Oklahoma Water Resources Center, will host a “Get Well-Informed” free well water testing event for residents in 11 counties across southeast Oklahoma this spring.

Oklahoma Voice: The safety of our country’s groundwater is in danger with EPA’s proposed closure of Oklahoma lab

Josh McClintock — Sat, 05 Apr 2025 18:13:17 GMT

Author: Dr. Christine Pappas, East Central University

April 4, 2025

The Environmental Protection Agency has long been a favorite target of the budget knife, but a new looming threat is different in magnitude and impact.

OK Energy Today: Why is there growing concern over Oklahoma’s water resources?

Josh McClintock — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:18:04 GMT

Author: Dr. Kevin Wagner, Oklahoma Water Resources Center

For those curious why many state resources and agricultural leaders are expressing growing concerns about groundwater depletion in Oklahoma and other states in the Midwest, a recent detailed explanation was offered by Oklahoma Water Resources Center Director Dr. Kevin Wagner.

The Oklahoman: As officials consider 'forever chemical' regulation, see where PFAS is found in Oklahoma

Josh McClintock — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 17:38:09 GMT

Author: Dale Denwalt, The Oklahoman - ddenwalt@oklahoman.com

The Environmental Protection Agency has released the latest data collected on "forever chemicals" found in public water supplies across the nation.

The Frontier: As Oklahoma faces less water and more demand, lawmakers revive talk of stricter monitoring

Josh McClintock — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 17:29:22 GMT

Author: Kayla Branch - kayla@readfrontier.com

State lawmakers are trying for a second year to require commercial users to more accurately track water usage. Farmers have opposed previous efforts to create stricter water monitoring.