If everyone is supposed to be conserving water, how is it okay that the car washes are staying open? Just to wash one vehicle surely uses thousands of gallons, especially with the auto washes. I understand that these are businesses, but if we are at a crisis level that can cause even those of us who are using as little water as we can to have our rates increased, shouldn’t there be something done about unnecessary use of this resource?
During the April 3 City Council meeting, the council voted to approve modifications to the Water Storage Ordinance and a resolution to enact the emergency water rate provisions of the Water Shortage Ordinance. See more information at City Beat, April 4.
Through taking these actions, businesses, including car washes, are subject to those provisions, the same as all other Bartlesville water customers. Specifically, those businesses will pay higher rates for use in excess of 10,000 gallons per month. Presumably, those costs will be passed on to customers, who, presumably, will use those services less often, thereby saving water.
Why are golf courses allowed to water anytime and as often as they want?
There are two golf course in Bartlesville. One, Adams Golf Course, is owned by the City of Bartlesville, while the other, Hillcrest Country Club, is a privately-owned facility. Different circumstances apply to each one.
Hillcrest County Club does not use City water to water their grounds. The club pumps that water directly from the Caney River. The City of Bartlesville has no involvement in this procedure. This means the water used by Hillcrest County Club is not water intended for Bartlesville water customers and has no impact on the Bartlesville water system.
Adams Golf Course will only water greens during the drought, as this represents a $2 million taxpayer-funded asset that the City has a responsibility to protect. No other portion of the golf course will be watered using City water during the drought. Golf course greens are a cool-season grass cut at .125ths of an inch that does not tolerate heat well and require more water to survive.
We just installed sod and will lose it if we’re only allowed to water two days per week. Is there an exception for new sod?
There is not an exception for sod. The twice weekly watering for sod is applicable for all residential, commercial, and City-owned properties and capital projects.
How do I know if my meter is less than three inches?
All residential meters are less than three inches. Larger meters are for larger properties. If in doubt, contact the Utility Billing Department at 918.338.4224.
The drought ordinance indicates the emergency rates are 100 percent of current rates for people using 0 to 2,000 gallons. But there isn’t a charge for people using 0 to 2,000 gallons, so what does that mean?
It just means there is no increase/charge for 0 to 2,000. In other words, 100 percent of nothing is still nothing.
Motor starters of all sizes are readily available; what is special about the Caney River pump station motor starter that makes it unavailable?
According to Water Utilities Director Terry Lauritsen, the motor starter needed for the Caney River Pump Station is a variable frequency drive for an 84 hp motor (three pumps and drives total), which allows the pump to deliver varying amounts of water depending on the need.
What steps has the Water Utilities director taken to secure an acceptable alternative starter?
City staff was able to secure drives that were not used on a Texas project in late December 2022. They had to be reworked to meet City specs, and arrived on-site last Wednesday. The pump station is anticipated to be operational before the end of the week.