Mandatory water rationing for Bartlesville

People in Bartlesville prepare for mandatory water rationing. The Bartlesville City Council says the community faces a water emergency. So they're banning things like outdoor watering and filling

Tuesday, April 9th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

People in Bartlesville prepare for mandatory water rationing. The Bartlesville City Council says the community faces a water emergency. So they're banning things like outdoor watering and filling up pools.

Commercial car washes, and some other businesses that rely on water, won't be affected, at least for now. The city council will discuss commercial restrictions over the next few days. Alex Dout, owns five car washes in Bartlesville and is worried, "Of course I'm concerned about Lake Hulah and the condition it is in, but I don't feel it's fair to pick out certain businesses and shut them down completely."

Lake Hulah, in northeastern Osage County, has lost much of its water because of a lack of rain over the past year. It supplies Bartlesville, Dewey and several rural water districts.

Officials say the lake is in its worst shape in 50-years.