Mayor Calls for Voluntary Water Restrictions

[carltonplace]

Date: August 3, 2011
Release: #11-312
Contact: Michelle Allen, Communications Dept., 918-596-9875 | 918-637-8225





City of Tulsa Implements Voluntary Water Restrictions

Link to ordinance:
http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientID=14783&stateID=36&statename=Oklahoma

           
The City of Tulsa used 207.6 MGD of water on Monday, Aug. 1 and used 207.4 MGD on Tues., Aug. 2, calling for the Mayor to implement voluntary water restrictions through an executive order.

Tulsa water customers and residents in Bixby, Catoosa, Glenpool, Jenks, Owasso and surrounding water districts 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.

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.

With the demand of water, both water treatment plants, Mohawk and A.B Jewell have been operating at near capacity for the past 2 – 3 weeks which increases the risks of operational or equipment failures. Together the plants have the capacity to deliver 220 MGD daily.

"This is new territory for us because usage is at record levels. 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 to be 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: Lacy, Whiteside, McClure and Reed are all operational and open until Aug. 12.

The Tulsa Parks system is also following the voluntary requirements by only watering in parks between midnight and noon. The contract that the city has in place to maintain downtown vegetation is also following the same watering guidelines.

Golf courses are included as an exception in the ordinance, allowing city golf courses to maintain courses as they serve as a revenue source for the city. Page Belcher is following the voluntary guidelines of watering from midnight to noon, watering only the tee boxes, greens and fairways and leaving the non-playing areas without water. Mohawk golf course does not use treated water from Tulsa, but receives raw water from Coal Creek to maintain the tee boxes, fairways and greens.

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% 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 – 213 MGD for two days
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 – 220 MGD for two days
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 for 2 consecutive days.  Under Stage 4 conditions, the Mayor may prohibit all outside watering.

The ordinance authorizes the Mayor to restrict or prohibit the use of water by filing an order with the City Clerk, which would be immediately transmitted to the Council and the Utility Board.

[RecycleMichael]

Water makes you stupid. Look at surfers.

[juliealex]

Maybe the city should crack down on businesses watering their lawns at 2 in the afternoon. Does State Farm really need to keep their massive acreage green during this drought?

[Hoss]

Maybe the city should crack down on businesses watering their lawns at 2 in the afternoon. Does State Farm really need to keep their massive acreage green during this drought?

Agreed.  And all the QTs I see doing the same.  I understand they're a top-notch corporate partner.  Shouldn't they act like top-notch corporate citizens now?

[custosnox]

just because I'm curious, anyone got Dewey's address so we can run it through the water usage lookup that TW provides?

[nathanm]

just because I'm curious, anyone got Dewey's address so we can run it through the water usage lookup that TW provides?

No need for an address, just a last name

Customer Name   DEWEY BARTLETT
Property Address   2426 E 30TH ST
Zip Code   74114
Property Type   RES SINGLE FAMILY
Property Class   IN - INSIDE CITY
Total Consumption   210,000.00

It only goes up to 2009, though.

[Breadburner]

Been doing this for a month........Quit watering the lawn 6 weeks ago.....

[Breadburner]

Pepsi Cola Bottling use to be the biggest user of water in the City...

[custosnox]

No need for an address, just a last name

It only goes up to 2009, though.

I thought they had a more up to date listing.  I just get curious when people call for rationing what kind of usage they have had.

[Hoss]

Pepsi Cola Bottling use to be the biggest user of water in the City...

Back in the day, I use to generate the water bills when CoT outsourced them to my mail shop.  I can say pretty unequivocally that during the mid 90s, American Airlines was the biggest water consumer to the city (aside from the bills I saw from the suburban municipalities).