A new institute created to improve Oklahoma’s water supply and sanitation is in need of a person to oversee the program.

The Corix Institute — established Jan. 26 by the OU Board of Regents — will begin searching for candidates after the institute’s basic goals are drafted, said Paul Risser, OU Research Cabinet chairman.

Berrien Moore, College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences dean, will head a nationwide search, Risser said. Once the position is filled, the institute will create a permanent charter.

Risser said Moore will look for someone who brings national stature in water research, particularly sustainability.

A $2 million gift from Corix, a multi-utility infrastructure company, brought the institute to life.

Corix helps communities build and manage infrastructure for water, wastewater and sustainable energy, according to the group’s website.

The $2 million will be used as an endowment that will be used to pay the head of the institute, Risser said.

The Corix Institute, which will be based out of the National Weather Center, will be composed of three parts:

• The Water Technologies for Emerging Regions Center, also known as the WaTER Center, will focus on water and sanitation development in other countries. Risser said the center will send students to other nations to teach the importance of water sanitation processes. “We know that water is such a crucial part of all parts of the world, and certainly in developing countries having clean water is a real challenge.”

• The Oklahoma Water Survey, a group providing data of the state’s water supply. The survey will serve as an organizing framework for all water research on campus, Risser said. He also said the group will make all information collected available to businesses, government entities and the general public.

• A new water and sustainability program which has yet to be defined. Risser said sustainability is making decisions today that enable us to have resources for tomorrow.

“I think it’s fair to say that in the future, we all hope there will be lots more to that third part of the Corix Institute, or it could be educational programs as well as research type of programs,” Risser said.

The National Weather Center was selected as the home for the program because the center has tools that could be helpful to predict how much water will be needed to sustain water supplies, Risser said.

Water programs like the institute are important for development, said David Sabatini, water technologies center director. He said the goal is to provide basic resources that will enable people to be healthy and to focus on higher objectives for the betterment of their communities.

“Water for health, health for education, education for development and development ultimately for peace,” Sabatini said.