Tulsa Sets Water Usage Record; Restrictions Likely If Trend Continues

Lindsay Reese, NewsOn6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma – The city of Tulsa is one day away from restricting water.

Tulsa residents used a record 207.60 million gallons of water on Monday.

If the city tops 206 million gallons for two days in a row, water restrictions will go into place, both inside and outside the city of Tulsa.

7/20/2011 Related Story: Tulsa's Record Water Usage Continues

City officials are asking residents to conserve water.

That includes watering lawns early in the morning to minimize evaporation, not over-watering, and making sure your sprinklers are set low and only watering the lawn, not the sidewalks. Residents are also asked to use buckets, rather than a hose, to water plants.

The city will find out Wednesday morning if we set a water usage record Tuesday.

If restrictions were put in place, officials said Stage 1 would be implemented.

Stage 1 - Voluntary Restrictions

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

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

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.