Broken Arrow Residents React To Boil Order, Following Broken Water Main

Broken Arrow Residents were ordered to boil their water Tuesday night. The city said it could run out of water any time.

Broken Arrow's main water line broke Tuesday morning and water levels have been dropping ever since.

And despite the city's effort to warn residents to ration, leaders say the water supply has become so dangerously low that it may be unsafe to drink.

"I don't think the sprinklers would sprinkle," said Al Voeller.

Al and Lois Voeller spent the evening planting pansies in their flower bed.

Their water hose was nowhere in sight, because they said they knew Broken Arrow was on strict rationing.

"You do what you can, there's not any point in trying to beat the system," Lois said.

But a few houses away, Greg Strange said he hadn't heard the news and was tending to his newly planted shrubs and flowers.

6/11/2013 Related Story: Broken Arrow Issues Precautionary Boil Order After Water Main Break

"Usually that happens maybe in July or August, but I had no idea there was a water ban going on. This is the first I've heard of it," Strange said.

The city said a PSO transformer that powers Broken Arrow's water treatment facility went out Monday night, forcing the city to shut off its main water valve.

When the valve was powered back up Tuesday, the line couldn't withstand the pressure and it broke.

"I did notice a lack of water pressure while I was watering these, and I didn't know what that was," Strange said. "I thought maybe because everybody was watering, but I don't see anyone else watering, so probably it's true what you just said."

The city asked all residents to use as little water as possible until 6 a.m.

In the meantime, a boil order has been issued.

Residents are urged to boil any water used for drinking, cooking, dishwashing, tooth brushing and bathing infants for at least a minute.

As for Strange, he said he's hanging up his water hose until another day.

"I'm going to shut it down, because I can wait until tomorrow, or until the part is fixed or it's repaired," Strange said. "Hopefully, these plants will last another 24 hours without me watering."

The city announced the water line was repaired Tuesday night, but the boil order remains in effect until further notice.

The city said it will take some time to refill the water towers, which means it may be Wednesday before the water emergency is lifted.