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IMPLICATIONS OF NEW ARSENIC STANDARDS ON OKLAHOMA WATER RESOURCES
Citation:
ROSS, R. R. IMPLICATIONS OF NEW ARSENIC STANDARDS ON OKLAHOMA WATER RESOURCES. Presented at Rural Economic Development Initiative Task Force Meeting, Elk City, OK, October 25, 2005.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
The new national standard for arsenic in drinking water supplies, slated to take effect in 2006, is having an unexpected impact on a number of Oklahoma communities. Currently, several municipalities in north central Oklahoma are in compliance with existing arsenic standards (50 ppb), but will be required to treat or amend their existing ground water supplies in order to comply with the pending arsenic standard (10 ppb). One proposed method for these communities to reduce arsenic concentrations in their drinking water is to pump ground water from a different aquifer, the Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer, with minimal concentrations of arsenic, via a proposed 88-mile pipeline. The additional water would be used to supplement existing ground water supplies and reduce naturally occurring arsenic concentrations to below 10 ppb. This proposal has been met with significant opposition by residents of numerous south central Oklahoma communities that depend on the Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer as their sole or primary source of water.