With passage of House Bill 3055 (the Water For 2060 Act) in 2012, Oklahoma became the first state in the nation to establish a bold, statewide goal of consuming no more fresh water in 2060 than was consumed in 2010.

Water for 2060 emphasizes the use of education and incentives, rather than mandates, to achieve this ambitious goal without limiting Oklahoma's future growth and prosperity.

Water for 2060 Advisory Council

A fifteen-member advisory council was created in 2013. Chaired by the OWRB, the council was comprised of fourteen members appointed by the Governor, Speaker of the House, and President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The council was tasked with studying and recommending appropriate water conservation practices, incentives, and educational programs to moderate statewide water usage while preserving Oklahoma’s population growth and economic development goals.

Advisory Council Recommendations

All Water Use Sectors

Develop public education and outreach materials, a statewide resources conservation campaign, and an Oklahoma water efficiency portal.

GOAL Best practices and information sharing
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Support Water for 2060; Coordinator position and provide authority and funding for its activities; provide funding for development and maintenance of the portal.
ESTIMATED COST $300,000-1,000,000 per year depending on extent of outreach

Public Water Supply

Develop an Oklahoma public water supply system water efficiency best practices guide.

GOAL Developing strategies and benchmarks for Public Water Supply water efficiency
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Provide funding for development and distribution of the guide.
ESTIMATED COST $200,000 initial cost plus annual updating
Develop a state recognition and rewards program for highly efficient public water supply systems.

GOAL Recognizing Public Water Supply systems with high levels of efficiency and reuse
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Establish the program, annually recognize efficient communities and systems, and provide funds for administration of the program.
ESTIMATED COST $30,000-50,000 per year (plus implications of lower interest rates and statewide Public Water Supply rating)
Develop an Oklahoma water system loss reduction best practices guide.

GOAL Reducing water loss in transmission/distribution systems
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Provide funding for development and distribution of the guide.
ESTIMATED COST $200,000
Provide state funding and financing for water system loss reduction.

GOAL Reducing water loss in transmission/distribution systems
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Provide funds for state matching-fund grant program.
ESTIMATED COST $1,000,000
Encourage regionalization and supply sharing.

GOAL Best practices and information sharing
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Continue gross production tax funding for OCWP implementation.
ESTIMATED COST $200,000 plus annual allocations for infrastructure mapping

Crop Irrigation

Apply state financing programs to water-efficient crop irrigation equipment conversion and practices.

GOAL Providing financial incentives and mechanisms for irrigators to implement efficient technologies and practices and increase crop yields
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Allocate annual funding for program costs and authorize expansion of the Oklahoma Agricultural Linked Deposit Program.
ESTIMATED COST Funds for OK EQIP and matching grant programs; linked deposits from current OWRB Financial Assistance Program funds
Develop an Oklahoma crop irrigation best practices guide.

GOAL Best practices and information sharing
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Provide funding for development and distribution of the guide.
ESTIMATED COST $300,000
Actively support federal crop insurance reform.

GOAL Reducing or eliminating water waste required to prove out crop insurance claims
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Introduce legislative resolution seeking relief at the federal level.
ESTIMATED COST Negligible

Energy and Industry

Facilitate increased sharing of information and supplies between energy and industry water users.

GOAL Facilitating the sharing of best practices and more efficient shared use of supplies between Energy and Industry water users
LEGISLATIVE ACTION None required.
ESTIMATED COST $200,000
Develop an energy and industry water use best practices guidance and recognition program.

GOAL Increasing awareness and recognition of efficient Energy and Industry water use practices
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Establish the program and annually recognize efficient Energy and Industry water users; provide funds for development of guidance and administration.
ESTIMATED COST $30,000-$50,000 per year
Promote industrial use of marginal quality waters.

GOAL Increasing the use of marginal quality water supplies in industrial applications
LEGISLATIVE ACTION None required.
ESTIMATED COST $100,000 and state agency staff time