Extreme Heat Could Lead To Water Restrictions For City Of Tulsa

NewsOn6.com & Laura Moss, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The record-breaking heat is breaking other records around Green Country. Tulsa and surrounding cities are using more water than ever to cool off themselves and their lawns.

Not counting Monday, the city of Tulsa has seen 15 days of temperatures of 100 or more.

The city of Tulsa broke a water usage record on Saturday, July 17, 2011.  Total water volume for the day was 204.1 million gallons per day (MGD.) That broke the previous record of 190.9 MGD set in 1999.

That means, on average, area households were using more than 1,450 gallons of water in one day.

Typically, we each use less than 1,000 gallons per day.

"It's the dry weather and people are using more water, so we're trying to force more water out into the system and that's increasing the pressure," Clayton Edwards, Water and Sewer Department Director, said.

If usage remains high, Edwards says the city may look for voluntary and then mandatory restrictions.  Water restrictions will start when usage hits 206 million gallons per day for two consecutive days.

"If we continue to hit the high 190s MGD and 200 MGD in water usage, we may need to impose a more restrictive policy," Edwards said. "At this point, it is our hope that if Tulsans are aware of the usage and take action to conserve, we may be able to avoid mandatory restrictions."

"Our main message is use water wisely, don't waste it," Edwards added.

Water rationing for the City is outlined in Title 11-C, Chapter 13, entitled restricted use of water in times of shortages. There are four stages of water restrictions:

• Stage 1 - Voluntary Restrictions

The condition for Stage 1 shall exist when water usage reaches 94% of deliverability each day for 2 consecutive days. Stage 1 would be implemented when demand is 206 mgd for 2 consecutive days. Under Stage 1 conditions, customers will be asked to conserve water voluntarily by limiting outside watering to the hours between midnight and noon every other day based on odd-even house numbering.

• Stage 2 - Mandatory Restriction of Outside Watering To Every Other Day

The conditions for Stage 2 shall exist when water usage reaches 97% of deliverability each day for 2 consecutive days, or 213 mgd. Under Stage 2 conditions, the Mayor can order the mandatory restriction of outside watering to the hours between midnight and noon every other day.

• Stage 3 - Mandatory Restrictions of Outside Watering To Every Other Day with a Hand-Held Hose

The conditions of Stage 3 shall exist when water usage reaches 100% of deliverability each day for 2 consecutive days, or 220 mgd. Under Stage 3 conditions, the Mayor can order the mandatory restriction of outside watering to the hours between midnight and noon every other day by hand-held hose only.

• Stage 4 - Mandatory Curtailment of Outside Watering

The conditions of Stage 4 shall exist when water usage exceeds deliverability each day or 2 consecutive days. Under Stage 4 conditions, the Mayor may prohibit all outside watering.

Tulsa has two water treatment plants, Mohawk and A.B. Jewell. Together the plants have the capacity to deliver 220 MGD.

City leaders said if we get some rain or some cooler temperatures we'll be in the clear.  For more information, visit www.cityoftulsa.org.