Mayor Asks for Voluntary Water Use Restrictions
City Ordinance Restricting Use of Water in
Times of ShortagesExecutive Order 2011-12
Water use in Tulsa climbed to record levels the first two days
of this week, topping 207 million gallons daily on Monday and
Tuesday, prompting Mayor Dewey Bartlett to implement voluntary
water restrictions through an executive order.
Tulsa water customers and those in neighboring cities and rural
water districts which get their water from Tulsa are included in
the voluntary restrictions, limiting outside watering to the hours
between midnight and noon every other day based on odd-even house
numbering on odd-even calendar days. This includes: water and
irrigation systems, swimming pools, sprinklers, and the use of
garden hose/sprinklers for recreational activities, etc.
The voluntary restrictions will remain in place, until further
notice is given. Voluntary restrictions may be lifted if usage goes
down or mandatory restrictions could be implemented if usage
continues to increase or if there is an operational/equipment
failure at one of the water treatment facilities.
The City's two water treatment plants, Mohawk and A.B
Jewell, have been operating at near capacity for the past two
to three weeks, which increases the risks of operational or
equipment making an operational failure more susceptible than
normal.
"This is new territory for us because usage is at record-level
highs. The plants are being pushed to capacity and are handling the
volume and higher pump rates satisfactorily now, but we need to be
prepared for potential problems," said Clayton Edwards, Director of
the Water & Sewer Department.
With the extreme heat and dangerous conditions outside, The City
of Tulsa is taking part in the voluntary restrictions by shutting
off all splash pads within the city limits. This choice came from
concern for the parents and grandparents monitoring children and
children being out in the heat and hot asphalt. Although
splash pads will not be in operation, four pools will be: Lacy,
Whiteside, McClure and Reed are all operational and open until Aug.
12. Tulsa Parks will also be following the voluntary requirements
by only watering in parks between midnight and noon.
Water triggers are set by city ordinance and give the mayor the
authority to issue an executive order for water restrictions. When
certain demand levels are reached, various stages of water
restrictions have to be implemented.
Stage 1 - Voluntary Restrictions - 206 MGD for Two
Days
The condition for Stage 1 shall exist when water usage reaches 94
percent of deliverability each day for two consecutive days.
Stage 1 will be implemented when demand is 206 MGD for two
consecutive days. Under Stage 1, customers are 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 - 213 MGD for two consecutive days.
Under Stage 2, 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 - 220 MGD for two consecutive
days.
Under Stage 3, 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 for two consecutive days. Under Stage
4, the mayor may prohibit all outside watering.
