Oklahoma NSF EPSCoR

07/23/2026

Researchers and electric cooperatives team up to strengthen Oklahoma’s power grid

STILLWATER, Okla. —

Ice storms, droughts, wildfires and other natural hazards put energy availability at risk for the more than 1.1 million customers of Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives. Scientists and industry leaders from across the state have studied how to make the power grid stronger in the face of these challenges, and they are making their results available to the public.

Researchers on the Socially Sustainable Solutions for Water, Carbon, and Infrastructure Resilience in Oklahoma (S³OK) project, worked closely with the Oklahoma Electric Cooperative and Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives to find practical solutions to these problems. Their findings are described in a newly released publication titled “Socially Sustainable Solutions for Natural Hazards and Utility Resilience.”

“What sets this work apart is its grounding in real-world conditions,” said Maggie Leόn-Corwin, a research scientist on the S³OK project. “These insights are essential for building systems that serve communities.”

S³OK researchers worked directly with utility professionals, agencies and emergency management professionals to understand the practical side of power-grid management. The team also used surveys of more than 2,000 Oklahoma residents to understand how ordinary people respond to utility disruptions.

These collaborations “create a foundation for innovative strategies that meet the demands of a rapidly changing energy landscape,” says the publication.

This research provides crucial resources for utility planners to predict threats and manage resources, including:

— Improving prediction skill for “cold-air outbreaks” across the Central U.S.

— Predicting peak power demand using subseasonal circulation patterns

— Laying the groundwork for updated “hazard maps” for rural utility planning, integrating climate projections, wildfire risks and utility infrastructure vulnerabilities

— Creating detailed models to evaluate power distribution systems during ice storms, including factors such as falling limbs, ice accumulation and wind speed and direction

— Examining the reliability of electric distribution networks during “high-impact/low-probability events,” finding that traditional methods often fail to predict how the system will behave during extreme events

— Assessing performance of the power grid before, during and after storms, and comparing the effectiveness of grid management strategies

The S³OK project is a collaboration between researchers at the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Langston University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, the University of Tulsa, East Central University and the Noble Research Institute. Funding was provided by a $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation and generous $4 million support from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, administered through the Oklahoma Established Programs to Stimulate Competitive Research (OK EPSCoR).

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The “Socially Sustainable Solutions for Natural Hazards and Utility Resilience” chapter is available at https://shareok.org//handle/11244/341835

This material is based on work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Grant No. OIA-1946093. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation or Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

STILLWATER, Okla. (May 18, 2026) — Ice storms, droughts, wildfires and other natural hazards put energy availability at risk for the more than 1.1 million customers of Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives....

07/16/2026

Oklahoma researchers develop new ways to remove toxins from produced water

STILLWATER, Okla. —

Oklahoma researchers have developed new ways to clean and reuse water produced during oil and gas drilling. This breakthrough could help protect the state’s water supply and reduce waste from energy production.

The research was part of a five‑year project called Socially Sustainable Solutions for Water, Carbon, and Infrastructure Resilience in Oklahoma (S3OK). Researchers worked in with D&B Operating LLC. They are sharing their findings in a new study titled “Enhancing Water Availability for Agricultural and Oilfield Applications.”

As Oklahoma grows, need for water is expected to rise 33 percent by 2060. Water use for oil and gas companies is expected to nearly triple by 2060, according to the “2012 Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan.”

One major challenge is produced water, which is a byproduct (wastewater) that comes out of the well during oil and gas production. This water can contain salt, chemicals and other pollutants.

“For every barrel of oil produced, nearly 9-10 barrels of PW [produced water]… are generated, totaling approximately 25 billion barrels per year in the US and 70 billion barrels globally,” says the study, “Oklahoma is a leading U.S. oil and gas producer, resulting in large amounts of water brought to the surface alongside oil and natural gas production.”

The S3OK team tested new methods that could make treatment easier and more affordable:

— Reduced-chemical treatment — New methods to treat produced water using fewer chemicals, lowering cost and environmental impact

— Rare earth element recovery — Techniques to extract lanthanum, a rare earth element, from produced water. This material is used in electronics and could turn waste into a valuable resource.

— Bioremediation — Methods to remove dissolved hydrocarbons using microbes to break down pollutants naturally

— Next-generation desalination — Showed that membrane distillation can handle produced water at virtually any salinity level when organic materials are removed beforehand

These advances bring produced-water reuse closer to reality. A pilot program focused on agricultural applications and rare-earth element recovery is now being planned.

Researchers are also working to create a Produced Water Consortium in Oklahoma. The group would help continue research and share solutions statewide.

The S3OK project is a collaboration between researchers at the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Langston University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, the University of Tulsa, East Central University and the Noble Research Institute. Funding was provided by a $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation and generous $4 million support from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, administered through the Oklahoma Established Programs to Stimulate Competitive Research (OK EPSCoR).

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The “Enhancing Water Availability for Agricultural and Oilfield Applications” chapter is available at https://shareok.org//handle/11244/342358

This material is based on work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Grant No. OIA-1946093. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation or Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

STILLWATER, Okla. (May 18, 2026) — Oklahoma researchers have developed new ways to clean and reuse water produced during oil and gas drilling. This breakthrough could help protect the state’s...

07/08/2026

Research collaboration shows nature and technology work together to protect Oklahoma’s water supplies

STILLWATER, Okla. (May 18, 2026) —

Oklahoma faces growing challenges to its water supplies. Many communities depend on lakes and underground water sources that are already under pressure due to population growth, drought and aging infrastructure. A new case study shows how Oklahoma cities can better manage water by using natural systems, like wetlands, with traditional water treatment technology.

The case study, titled “Exploration of Hybrid Treatment and Reuse Alternatives for Wastewater and Stormwater in a Municipal Context: An Oklahoma Case Study and Resource Guide,” focuses on how cities can safely clean and reuse wastewater and stormwater to stretch limited water supplies. Researchers at OU’s Center for Restoration of Ecosystems and Watersheds worked with the City of Norman to conduct the research.

The study looked at hybrid water treatment systems that combine standard treatment plants with wetlands designed to mimic natural environments. The wetlands act as passive systems that help remove pollutants using natural processes.

Researchers tested these wetland systems to see how well they removed common pollutants as well as newer chemicals found in wastewater. The results showed that wetlands can play an important role in cleaning water when used alongside traditional treatment methods.

“Oklahoma practitioners should continue seeking creative solutions that utilize all available tools – including passive, hybrid, and advanced conventional treatment technologies – to implement practical water reuse and treatment that augment their local drinking water supply,” says the case study.

The findings support goals set by the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan.

The case study is a part of the larger five-year project called Socially Sustainable Solutions for Water, Carbon & Infrastructure Resilience in Oklahoma (S³OK). The project used data collection, experiments and collaborations between scientists, city leaders and engineers from across Oklahoma to find real-world solutions to water-availability challenges.

The Socially Sustainable Solutions for Water, Carbon, and Infrastructure Resilience in Oklahoma (S3OK) project is a collaboration between researchers at the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Langston University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, the University of Tulsa, East Central University and the Noble Research Institute. Funding was provided by a $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation and generous $4 million support from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, administered through the Oklahoma Established Programs to Stimulate Competitive Research (OK EPSCoR).

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The “Exploration of Hybrid Treatment and Reuse Alternatives for Wastewater and Stormwater in a Municipal Context: An Oklahoma Case Study and Resource Guide” chapter is available at: https://shareok.org//handle/11244/342359

This material is based on work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Grant No. OIA-1946093. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation or Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

STILLWATER, Okla. (May 18, 2026) — Oklahoma faces growing challenges to its water supplies. Many communities depend on lakes and underground water sources that are already under pressure due to...

07/01/2026

Oklahoma researchers offer insights into planning for severe weather

STILLWATER, Okla. —

Researchers working across Oklahoma have found new ways to predict some types of extreme weather up to two weeks in advance. These findings could help protect the state’s power systems, farms and communities.

The research is part of a five‑year project called Socially Sustainable Solutions for Water, Carbon, and Infrastructure Resilience in Oklahoma (S3OK). Scientists recently shared their work in a new chapter titled “Subseasonal to Seasonal Weather Patterns.”

Oklahoma has some of the most extreme and fast‑changing weather in the country. The state often faces severe storms, cold snaps, heat waves and sudden shifts in temperature and rain. These changes are difficult to predict. They can damage power lines, hurt crops and strain water supplies.

The research team focused on “subseasonal to seasonal” (S2S) forecasting such as sudden shifts in temperature and rainfall, often called “whiplash events.” These events can lead to wildfires, flash floods and droughts. These can cause decreased water quality, power outages and losses for farmers.

“The S2S timescale lies in a ‘predictability desert,’” the chapter says. “That is, the time frame starts at the end of the more traditional weather models used for forecasting (out to 10 days) but ends short of seasonal (3-9 months) timescales, where signals from the ocean and land offer good prediction skill at those times. S2S forecasting represents the ‘new frontier’ in forecasting.”

The researchers worked closely with leaders in energy, farming and utilities to make sure the science would address practical needs. Their findings include:

— Finding conditions that lead to cold-air outbreaks up to 14 days ahead of time. This gives energy providers and emergency planners more time to prepare

— Finding how flash droughts before and during the planting of some crops can greatly reduce crop yields

— Understanding the ways heavy rain can increase wildfire risk months later by growing more vegetation that later dries out

— Creating a first-of-its-kind database of cold-air outbreaks for the Central U.S., back to 1950 and identifying weather patterns that lead to these outbreaks.

The overall goals of the S³OK project are to develop socially sustainable solutions for water, land use and infrastructure systems in Oklahoma. The S2S team’s contributions support these goals with:

— Earlier forecasting for cold-air outbreaks, heat waves and temperature whiplash events

— Improved energy demand forecasting, particularly in vulnerable areas of the power grid

— Providing decision-makers with practical insights to manage the impacts of extreme temperature swings

The S³OK project is a collaboration between researchers at the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Langston University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, the University of Tulsa, East Central University and the Noble Research Institute. Funding was provided by a $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation and generous $4 million support from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, administered through the Oklahoma Established Programs to Stimulate Competitive Research (OK EPSCoR).

# # #

The “Subseasonal to Seasonal Weather Patterns” chapter is available at: https://shareok.org//handle/11244/342360

This material is based on work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Grant No. OIA-1946093. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation or Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

06/24/2026

5 years, 7 institutions, nearly 100 researchers, 1 goal: Solving Oklahoma’s environmental challenges

Read more about the S³OK project's findings on the OK EPSCoR website.

STILLWATER, Okla. (May 18, 2026) — Oklahoma faces many environmental problems. These include less fresh water, extreme weather patterns, lower soil health and dealing with wastewater from oil and...

05/13/2026

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05/13/2026

Are you drinking enough water?

As Drinking Water Week continues, we’re highlighting how hydration plays an important role in blood sugar balance. Dehydration can raise blood sugar by concentrating glucose, while high blood sugar increases urination and fluid loss. People with diabetes don't need more water than others but should be extra careful to stay hydrated.

To learn more about diabetes and hydration visit: http://bit.ly/48IQ1Jm

Check back tomorrow as we take a closer look at working out and staying hydrated.

04/17/2026