Lack Of Rainfall Leads To Water Rationing In Some Oklahoma Towns

Craig Day, News On 6

BRAGGS, Oklahoma -- The lack of rainfall is increasing the fire danger in Oklahoma and is prompting the beginning of the water rationing season statewide.

Oklahoma City is asking its residents to use water wisely. The city is pumping about 160 million gallons of water a day, well above the fair-weather average of about 100 million gallons a day.

Residents in Braggs, in Muskogee County, are being urged to conserve water through the weekend.

6/23/2011 Related Story: Residents In Braggs Urged To Conserve Water

"We've had a few sprinkles, but no real good rain," Mike Smith said.

Thankfully for Mike Smith, and his nieces and nephews who will visit soon, his pool was already filled up before the towns water problems started.

"Good thing. Because this is their main thing for coming really," he said.

Braggs is asking people to conserve water through the weekend. The town has low water because of low output from two of its wells.

That, combined with higher than normal water usage, is prompting the voluntary rationing.

It isn't just a problem in Braggs. If we don't get a significant amount of rain soon and if severe drought conditions continue in Oklahoma, water rationing will happen in communities statewide.

Especially in western Oklahoma, which is in an extreme to exceptional drought. Exceptional is the worst rating.

6/24/2011 Related Story: Moderate To Extreme Drought Grips Much Of Oklahoma

"Western Oklahoma has been suffering for quite a long time without rain, but as things continue to heat up and dry out in Eastern Oklahoma that drought will likely expand into the Eastern half of the state as well," News on 6 Meteorologist Mike Grogan said.

A hot and dry June hasn't helped.

Mike Smith said, with the plea for conservation in Braggs, he won't add water to the pool or water his plants and like everyone else, he'll hope for relief.

"I want to see some rain bad. We need some rain bad," Smith said.