Lawton’s search for supplemental sources of water apparently will resume soon.
The City Council approved an alternate water supply project last year, authorizing city staff to drill wells into the Arbuckle-Timber Aquifer, construct a water conveyance system and upgrade the SoutheastWater Treatment Plant.
Phase 1 of the AWS project was intended to produce at least 5 million gallons of potable water each day.The first well was authorized on June 8, 2023, and produces 1.2 million gallons of raw water daily, Public Utilities Director RustyWhisenhunt reported.
The Public Utilities Department advertised for bids for a follow-up project that involved drilling seven test holes and converting four of them to production wells. However, only one bid was received and it exceeded the engineer’s estimate by 100%.
That bid was rejected and the project was re-advertised last November. Three bids were received, and the City Council awarded a $9,223,500 construction contract to Associated Environmental Industries of Norman on Jan. 23.
The council recently acknowledged receipt of a permit the state Department of Environmental Quality issued on June 13, authorizing the city to proceed with construction of two groundwater wells in Comanche County.
Lawton has three surface sources of water: Lakes Lawtonka, Ellsworth, and Waurika.