ELGIN – Elgin will purchase the right to drill water from a property over the Rush Springs Aquifer, which will allow the city to drill test wells and production wells on the site.
Acting as the Elgin Public Works Authority, the Elgin City Council voted unanimously July 11 to accept a water-rights and well-drilling agreement with the property owners, David and Michelle Ballou. The item was listed on the authority’s consent agenda, which typically consists of routine items that can be approved without discussion or multiple motions.
The authority also accepted a water well easement for the property.
The agreement is good news for Elgin, said Councilman Fred Guevara.
“This is the first step toward being able to get more water in the city of Elgin,” he said. “It’s pretty awesome.”
The Rush Springs aquifer lies underneath 4,692 square miles of west-central Oklahoma, including parts of Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Comanche, Custer, Grady, Stephens, and Washita counties, according to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board’s website. It is the second most developed aquifer in the state after the Ogallala Aquifer.
The agreement between Elgin and the Ballous allows the city access to drill test wells and an eventual permanent water well on a portion of the property, split into two tracts.
The city has the right to explore the site and drill test wells before deciding where to locate the production wells, according to the agreement. The city engineer will determine the exact location of the production wells.
The city will pay the owners $10,000 upon execution of the agreement and an additional $90,000 within 30 days after the production wells are completed and inspected, for a total of $100,000.
If the water from the wells is not suitable for use in the city’s water system or is not enough to meet the city’s needs, the city will not be liable for the full purchase price. However, the owners will be entitled to keep the $10,000 that was paid upon execution of the agreement as a cancellation payment.
If the city decides to abandon the project and the property, the city must restore the areas that were used for testing; plug and abandon all wells at least four feet below the surface of the property; and repair any fences, equipment and roads damaged by the city’s activities.
In addition to the property, the agreement grants the city two easements. One easement will be over the property to the nearest section line roads for installing and maintaining wells, pipelines and other items required to operate a well for producing groundwater.
The second easement will allow the city to install and maintain a water transmission main.
As part of the agreement, the city will provide two water meters and water to the owners for the sole purpose of watering livestock. The meters must be installed near the transmission lines for the production wells, and water will be provided at no cost up to 60,000 gallons per year, per meter.