Metro Cities Deal With Water Issues As Temperatures Rise Across The State

The Oklahoma City Utilities Department expects water pressure to be fully restored by early evening Wednesday after a water line break. 

The break near Draper Water Treatment Plant affected nearly 6,400 homes downtown and on the southside of OKC. 

The department says the break occurred in a 48-inch water transmission line around 1 a.m. Wednesday. Crews were able to locate the break by 4 a.m. 

After shutting off the line to end the leak, the city was forced to reroute water from other area systems. 

“Our system is quite robust,” says department spokesperson, Michelann Ooten. “Where one’s impacted in one area of the city, we’re working to make another area of the city help out.” 

The also extended outside of Oklahoma City limits. In Yukon, some families hoping to beat the heat at the local splash pad were instead met with disappointment. 

Yukon gets half its water from OKC. In order to conserve, the city was forced to shut it down. 

Shannon Melvin arrived to play with her son. She thought they were just the first ones there. 

“It sucks because it’s hot and he wants to play,” she laments. 

Other disappointed faces also looked on the dry pad with disappointment. Families turned to Plan B. 

“I got a little splash pad thing at the house and play a little swimming pool and stuff,” says Karen Cook. She hoped to bring her three grandkids. 

Meanwhile back in OKC, it’s unclear where crews are in fixing the line, but Ooten says significant progress was made throughout the day in restoring pressure. 

She says if it’s not on by the time you get home on Wednesday it should be shortly after. 

She also encourages conservation considering the city’s hottest days are still ahead.