Floating mixing units churn water, keep algae from forming
The City of Bartlesville is asking for the public’s assistance in protecting a critical piece of its water infrastructure: the floating water mixing units located throughout Hudson Lake.
In addition to increased patrols at the lake, the City is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the prosecution of vandalism of the mixers, which churn the lake and prevent algae from forming.
“Over the past several years, these critical pieces of infrastructure have experienced a substantial increase in vandalism, resulting in costly repairs and reduced effectiveness in maintaining the quality of our community’s drinking water,” said Water Utilities Director Terry Lauritsen.
The floating mixers are strategically anchored in specific locations throughout the lake and are designed to draw water from depths based on each unit’s location. Operating continuously, these mixers circulate the water column to help reduce algae blooms and maintain more consistent raw water quality, allowing the City’s water treatment plant to operate more efficiently and effectively.
Each floating mixer represents an investment of approximately $70,000, making them a significant public asset. Unfortunately, these units have become the target of repeated acts of vandalism, including:
- Jamming debris into the rotating component in the center of the mixer.
- Dragging mixers to different areas of the lake, which reduces their effectiveness and often damages the unit.
- Damaging the solar panels.
- Attempting to flood or otherwise disable the equipment and its float support system.
“These acts of vandalism ultimately affect every citizen who relies on Bartlesville drinking water,” Lauritsen said. “Repairing damaged equipment increases operational costs and reduces the City’s ability to optimize raw water quality before treatment.”
To further protect these public assets, the City will begin strictly enforcing park hours of 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., effective immediately.
“If the vandalism continues, we may have no choice but to close Hudson Lake to all boating traffic,” Lauritsen said. “Of course, this is an outcome we hope to avoid. Hudson Lake is a valued recreational resource for our community, and we want it to remain open for everyone to enjoy responsibly.”
If you observe anyone vandalizing these units or engaging in unsafe or destructive behavior around them, please immediately contact the Police Department at 918.338.4001.
“Vandalism of these systems is a felony and punishable by imprisonment,” said Lauritsen. “Prompt reporting will help hold those responsible for these crimes accountable, as well as prevent costly damage.”