WASHINGTON D.C. - The Senate has passed the North Texas Zebra Mussel Act.

The act removes the bureaucratic barrier preventing local water districts from transporting drinking water out of Lake Texoma.

U.S. Senator John Cornyn says that the bill will allow the Texoma Water Pump to resume operations and provide water to the more than 1.5 million people served by the North Texas Municipal Water District and Greater Texoma Utility Authority.

It was shut down initially to prevent contamination from zebra mussels.

A larger bill containing the act will now move to the House of Representatives where companion legislation sponsored by Representative Ralph Hall passed unanimously earlier this year.