LOOK BEFORE WE LEAP

In today’s politics it is a good idea to take a good look at the new laws that are proposed. Far too often laws are passed then we find out that there are consequences that we had not factored in. I have lived in eastern Oklahoma all of my life, while we don’t have a huge industrial base we do have an abundant source of clean fresh water. Any city planner knows that for a city to grow you must have a good source of water. Several years ago a good friend of mine told me that wars would be fought over potable water, it is no secret that the larger cities across the country are coveting water from wherever they might get it. I read about a bill before the state legislature that concerns water and water rights.

House Bill 2238, by Rep. Colby Schwartz, is an opportunity for thirsty areas of Oklahoma to work cooperatively with other Oklahomans who have more water resources. “This is just one of many bills that address an overall, comprehensive effort to make sure Oklahoma's natural resources are used in-state first," said Schwartz, R-Yukon.

This bill was prompted by a new regulation the EPA enacted in 2006; it decreased the allowed level of arsenic in drinking water by 500 percent.  This put fast growing cities like El Reno, Mustang, Piedmont and Yukon in a difficult position since a majority of their water supply came from the Garber-Wellington aquifer, which has arsenic levels barely exceeding the new mandate.