Potential contingency plans under review, city manager says
Bartlesville remains under Stage 3 restrictions as outlined in the Water Shortage Ordinance — an ordinance designed to slow the decline of the City’s overall water supply until other measures can be implemented, City Manager Mike Bailey said this week.
“We are not going to run out of water,” Bailey said. “Everyone is asking what the plan is when we run out of water. The Water Shortage Ordinance is part of the plan, as the restrictions will help preserve our water supply until it rains and until other emergency provisions can be made. We are and will continue to work to develop those plans to ensure that our water needs are met into the future.”
Bailey said while there are several ideas on the table and possible routes the City might take to supplement or replace its potable water intake, none of the potential plans are ready for public discussion.
“They are in various stages of development and not ready to be shared publicly, but I am confident in assuring our residents that Bartlesville is not going to run out of water,” he said. “We will provide water to our citizens, one way or another.”
He said citizens should continue to conserve, however, until other measures are secured.
“We’re going to be fine,” he said. “But part of being ‘fine’ is for us all to do our part right now. We all need to continue conserving water to preserve what we have until other measures can be put in place.”
Drought conditions have plagued northeast Oklahoma and, perhaps more importantly for Bartlesville, Southeast Kansas, where the watersheds for Hulah and Copan lakes are located. The City’s primary water supply source is Hulah Lake, which is supplemented by Copan Lake.
The City enacted the Water Shortage Ordinance when water supply fell below 70 percent last December. Supply has been in near-continuous decline since then, and stands at around 58 percent this week. Light rains in the area have helped maintain supply over the past few weeks due to reduced outdoor water use for this time of year. Water use, which can more than double during the summer months, has averaged between 4 million gallons per day (mgd) and 5 mgd. Significant rains are needed near in the Cedarvale, Kansas, and Sedan, Kansas, areas to replenish water levels at Hulah and Copan lakes.
For more information, see the following:
Q&A: Emergency rates & other water questions
Water supply shows slight improvement
Restrictions continue, Stage 3 rates in effect
Water conservation top priority as levels fall
Some ways you can help:
- Take shorter showers. This is the No. 1 most effective thing we can do (indoors) to conserve.
- Consider installing “low flow” plumbing, i.e., toilets, shower heads, etc. Also, replace any leaky or defective parts.
- Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving.
- Never use the toilet as a wastebasket. Only human waste and toilet paper should go into the toilet — ever.
- Run the washing machine only when full and adjust the water level setting carefully.
- Stop or reduce outdoor watering.
For more information, see www.cityofbartlesville.org.