Okla. Stat. tit. 82, § 82-1272

Each district shall have power to:

1. Sue and be sued, complain and defend, in its corporate name;

2. Adopt a seal which may be altered at pleasure, and to use

it, or a facsimile thereof, as required by law;

3. Acquire water rights, construct, erect, purchase, lease as

lessee and in any manner acquire, own, hold, maintain, improve,

operate, sell, dispose of, lease as lessor, exchange and mortgage

plants, buildings, works, machinery, supplies, equipment, apparatus,

facilities, property rights and transportation and distribution

lines, facilities, equipment or systems necessary to transport,

distribute, sell, furnish, treat, store and dispose of water or

sewage. All plans for facilities must be submitted to and approved

by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and the State Department of

Health. The disposal of any water outside the State of Oklahoma

shall not be permitted without the consent of the Legislature;

4. Borrow money and otherwise contract indebtedness, issue or

execute its obligations therefore, including, without limitation,

bond anticipation notes and refunding bonds and secure the payment

thereof by mortgage, pledge or deed of trust of all or any of its

property, assets, franchises, rights, privileges, licenses, rights-

of-way, easements, revenues or income, only upon the affirmative

vote of at least three-fourths (3/4) of all the members of the board

as constituted;

5. Have and exercise the right of eminent domain for the

purpose of acquiring right-of-way and other properties necessary in

the construction or operation of its property and business and in

the manner now provided by the condemnation laws of this state for

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acquiring private property for public use. No district shall have

the right to exercise the power of eminent domain for the purpose of

acquiring water rights or mineral interests;

6. Accept gifts, loans, or grants of money, services,

franchises, rights, privileges, licenses, rights-of-way, easements

or other property, real or personal, or provisions for nonpayment as

may be authorized oravailable to the district pursuant to federal,

state or local regulations, or programs;

7. Make any and all contracts necessary or convenient for the

exercise of the powers of the district on such terms and for such

period of time as its Board of Directors shall determine;

8. Fix, regulate and collect rates, fees, rents or other

charges for water and any other facilities, supplies, equipment or

services furnished by the district. The rates shall be just,

reasonable and nondiscriminatory. The value of water rights held by

the district shall not be considered in the determination of rates;

9. Conduct its affairs within this state subject to the

provisions of this act;

10. Conduct its business so that appropriated rights to water

held by the district shall not be alienated or encumbered apart from

the alienation or encumbrance of the facilities of the district;

11. Invest funds in the same manner as generally authorized for

counties and municipalities and for the purpose of defraying

interest expenses related to facility construction debt service;

12. Prepay principal payments when permitted without penalty

and as appropriate to reduction of interest or expenses;

13. Conduct planning in accordance with the concepts and

principles of any applicable, adopted state plans for current and

future water and sewage needs, investigate the desirability of and

necessity for additional sources and supplies of water, and make

studies, surveys and estimates as may be necessary to determine the

feasibility and cost of any water or sewage facilities;

14. Individually or jointly with other persons or public

agencies acquire, own, hire, use, operate, lease as lessor or

lessee, and dispose of personal property and real property and any

interest therein, including projects existing, proposed or under
of water, and make

studies, surveys and estimates as may be necessary to determine the

feasibility and cost of any water or sewage facilities;

14. Individually or jointly with other persons or public

agencies acquire, own, hire, use, operate, lease as lessor or

lessee, and dispose of personal property and real property and any

interest therein, including projects existing, proposed or under

construction, and make improvements thereon;

15. Determine the locations and character of, and all other

matters in connection with, any and all projects or activities it is

authorized to acquire, hold, establish, effectuate, operate or

control;

16. Enter into contracts with persons or public agencies for

the sale, purchase or provision of all or any part of the water

facilities or sewage facilities, or any services or products derived

therefrom, in accordance with this act; and contract with any person

or public agency for the planning, development, construction,

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operation, sale or lease as lessor or lessee of any water facility

or sewage facility or any part thereof;

17. Procure insurance against any losses in connection with its

property, operations or assets in such amounts and from such sources

as it deems desirable, or self-insure against such losses;

18. Enter onto any private or public lands after notice to and

permission of the owner thereof for the purpose of making surveys,

inspections or other activities related to its powers under this

act;

19. Adopt regulations as it deems necessary, not inconsistent

with state law or the powers of any existing public agency to adopt

or enforce regulations, to protect its water supplies and facilities

and sewage facilities;

20. Do and perform all acts and things, and to have and

exercise any and all powers as may be necessary, convenient or

appropriate to effectuate the purpose for which the district is

organized, and exercise all other powers not inconsistent with the

Articles of Association forming the district pursuant to the

Interlocal Cooperation Act, the Constitution of the State of

Oklahoma or the United States Constitution which may be reasonably

necessary or appropriate or incidental to the exercise of any of the

powers enumerated in this act.

The district may perform any act authorized by this act through,

or by means of, its officers, agents or employees or by contract

with any person, including, without limitation, the employment of

engineers, architects, attorneys, appraisers, financial advisers and

such other consultants and employees as may be required in the

judgment of the board of directors, and fix and pay their

compensation from funds available to the district therefore.

Nothing in this section shall authorize a district to take or

disturb properties or facilities belonging to any public utility,

public agency, individual citizen, business entity or common

carrier, which properties or facilities are required for the proper

and convenient operation of such public utility, public agency or

common carrier, unless provision is made for the restoration,

relocation or duplication of such properties or facilities elsewhere

at the sole cost of the district.