Waste-load discharge regulations placed on Newcastle have limited the City’s ability to release treated water at the Newcastle Wastewater Treatment Plant. The problem: treated water releases must be allocated through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, and several other area municipalities are looking for the same allocations.
Newcastle has a permit for releasing 1.5 million gallons of treated water into the South Canadian River. Other communities which have permits to discharge in the Canadian River include Oklahoma City, Tuttle, Mustang and Moore.
City Manager Kevin Self told the City Council that Newcastle participated in an allocation study through ACOG (Association of Central Oklahoma Governments) that said the current rate of discharge will not meet Newcastle’s future needs. He said the City can double the amount of discharge to 3 million gallons with the use of filtration. Any increase in discharge (design flow) must be offset by decreased concentration limits — or a balance of oxygen, ammonia and organic materials which are released.
