Drinking water may contain low levels of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno- compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk for infections. These groups should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. The EPA and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants. For more information, contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791), or visit www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water.

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems.

Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and private plumbing. The City of Tulsa is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing fixtures.

The City of Tulsa is required to perform 50 customer tap samplings annually for Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) compliance. The Action Level for lead concentration in drinking water is 15 ug/L. When lead above the Action Level is found, the City of Tulsa will provide a pitcher with filter and further investigate to mitigate customer exposure to lead. When water has been sitting in pipes for several hours, customers can minimize the potential for lead exposure by opening the tap and allowing the water to run for 30-120 seconds before drinking or cooking with it. The LCR can be found at www.cityoftulsa.org/media/27372/2024-lcr-results.pdf. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may request to have it tested.
More information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791),or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

To categorize service line materials and ensure the system is free of lead pipes, the City is inspecting service lines through the “True Reads” program to establish the Lead Service Line (LSL) inventory. As part of this project, the City of Tulsa is contracting out meter installations for 145,000 residential customers. During the routine meter change-out process, service line material will be visible, and contractors will inspect the service line for lead. Although it is unlikely, if your service line material is unknown, it may be lead and you will receive an annual notice until the material can be identified. A map showing the results of the service line inventory can be found at maps.cityoftulsa.org/truereads. Results are updated as work is completed. The LSL inventory spreadsheet is also available to download on the True Reads website under the section titled Service Line Consumer Notice Letters.

Water moves through more than 2,200 miles of underground water lines from Tulsa’s treatment plants to water faucets throughout the City of Tulsa. Usually, residents in the north and west portions of Tulsa receive water from the Mohawk plant. Those living in the south and east areas of Tulsa receive water from the A.B. Jewell plant. Both plants serve the central areas of the city. Because of daily changes in supply and demand, both plants can serve all areas of the city when necessary.

In our mission to provide the highest quality water, the City of Tulsa joined the Partnership for Safe Water, a national volunteer initiative developed by the American Water Works Association (AWWA).

The goal of Partnership for Safe Water is to provide a new measure of public health protection by exceeding regulatory requirements through optimized plant performance. Both of the City's water treatment plants received the Phase IV President's Award in 2024.

For more information on the City of Tulsa’s participation in the Partnership for Safe Water, contact Dustin Davis at (918) 591-4028.

The Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority (TMUA) Invites You to Get Involved

Meetings that include decisions about our water are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. Agendas are posted on the electronic marquee in the City Hall entrance at 2nd and Cincinnati, and online at www.cityoftulsa.org/government/meeting-agendas/. We encourage our customers to participate in the decisions that
affect the quality of our drinking water by attending a meeting.

TMUA MEMBERS
Richard Sevenoaks, Chair | Lou Reynolds, Vice-Chair | Rick Hudson, Secretary | Jeff Dunn | Stephanie Vickers-Regan | Jim Cameron | Mayor Monroe Nichols