Odessa American in Odessa, Texas

City council ends draw dispute with Midland over floods

The Odessa council decided not to appeal verdicts and will pay about 250000 in legal costs from the water and sewer budget. They faced a protracted court battle over whether discharges into Monahans Draw caused flooding. Experts argued the river draw did not damage property, influencing the decision to go to trial. Officials consider redirecting 25 to 30 percent of wastewater to other uses, including irrigation and industrial buyers like Rexene.