Norman moves forward with groundwater conveyance design and wastewater plant upgrades

Norman moves forward with groundwater conveyance design and wastewater plant upgradesThe City Council has approved engineering services to connect wells to a future groundwater treatment plant alongside capital increases for wastewater dewatering improvements.

Plummer Associates awarded $335,850 for water well line extension engineering.

Crossland Heavy Contractors receives $67,070 increase for reclamation facility dewatering.

$237,711 allocated for Lake Thunderbird TMDL water quality monitoring.

Engineering contracts approved for Royal Oaks and James Garner water line replacements.

The Norman City Council, acting as the Norman Utilities Authority (NUA), approved a slate of water and wastewater infrastructure contracts on January 13, 2026, headlined by engineering services to support a proposed groundwater treatment facility. The Council unanimously approved a $335,850 contract with Alan Plummer and Associates, Inc. (doing business as Plummer Associates, Inc.) for the design of water well line extensions. The firm, which maintains an Oklahoma City office, brings regional experience from major transmission projects such as the Del City Raw Water Pipeline and Oklahoma City’s Atoka Pipeline design. This infrastructure project (WA0214) is designed to connect water wells to the city’s proposed Groundwater Treatment Facility, a key component of the city's future water supply strategy. Significant investments were also confirmed for the city's wastewater infrastructure. The NUA authorized a change order for the Norman Water Reclamation Facility Dewatering Improvements project. The agreement with Crossland Heavy Contractors increases the contract value by $67,070, bringing the revised total to $3,387,070. In a related wastewater maintenance item, the Council approved a timeline extension of 263 calendar days for the Storm Holding Pond Biosolids Removal project managed by Industrial Hydro Services. The Consent Docket also contained approvals for distribution system maintenance. Professional Engineering Consultants, P.A. secured a $128,000 contract for engineering services for the Royal Oaks Water Line Replacement project. Additionally, the Council approved an amendment to an existing contract with Cowan Group Engineering, L.L.C., increasing the budget by $26,450 for the James Garner Water Line Replacement project. Regarding source water quality, the city renewed its partnership with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, approving a contract worth $237,711.86 for the Lake Thunderbird Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) monitoring program. During the public comment period, Utilities Director Chris Mattingly briefly addressed sanitation access in dense areas, but the session also featured a resident complaint regarding a sewer interceptor on Dalton Lane. The resident alleged that improper connections to the interceptor by a developer had caused sewage backups and property damage, although no formal action was taken on the claim during the meeting.