Vian, Parts Of Rural Muskogee County Under Water Rationing

Sequoyah County Water Association has issued mandatory water rationing – enforced by fines and possible disconnection of service.

They are instituting an even/odd system for outside watering and asking customers to limit water use to essential functions.

Sequoyah County Water Association covers the town of Vian, eastern rural Muskogee County and the area north of Interstate 40 to the Arkansas state line. They serve Sequoyah Rural Water District No. 5.

No outside watering is allowed between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Customers with even numbered account numbers can water on even numbered days, and residents with odd numbered account numbers are permitted to water on odd numbered days, Plank said.

Customers should not fill swimming pools, wash cars, sidewalks or other hard surfaces during the mandatory water rationing.

The drought has caused excessively high water usage, according to Jackie Plank with the Association. Homes at higher elevation may be without water when homes at lower elevation put too much of a strain on the supply.

Fines are possible for those who don't follow the restrictions:

• First offense: $100 fine
• Second offense: $500 fine
• Third offense: Disconnection of service

Sequoyah County Water Association serves 5,830 individual taps, according to Plank. The Association is currently enlarging distribution lines in several areas, but the construction won't be complete until the end of February, 2013.