City of Tulsa still asking to conserve water usage amid rising water main breaks

TULSA, Okla. — The City of Tulsa is still trying to increase storage tank levels due to the amount of water lost throughout the water system after multiple water main breaks caused by February’s winter weather.

Residents are asked to continue to conserve water until the water situation fully stabilizes.

Nearly 50 crews worked to fix broken water lines and restore service to those affected on Sunday. The City of Broken Arrow provided Tulsa with up to four additional crews and other equipment to help repair broken waterlines.

Sunday was the first day in a week where waterline breaks in Tulsa dipped below 100.

According to the City, since the onset of the cold weather event, there have been a total of 311 waterline breaks, with 213 of those repaired as of noon on Sunday.

Additionally, the Tulsa Fire Department has responded to a total of 348 private waterline breaks. These private water line breaks are another main contributor to water loss and the reason why the City is continuing to ask people to conserve water to protect storage tank levels.

To report water line breaks, customers can call Water Dispatch at (918) 596-9488 or Sewer Dispatch at (918) 586-6999. Additionally, customers can report waterline breaks via email, to waterbreaks@cityoftulsa.org.

Conserve Water

The City of Tulsa is asking all water customers to continue conserving water.

Other tips to conserve water include:

• Refrain from using high water-usage appliances, such as your dishwasher and washing machine
• Refrain from taking baths and long showers
• Keep your water usage to consumption only, such as for cooking, getting drinking water, and using the toilet

View the waterline break map at https://maps.cityoftulsa.org/watermainbreaks

Water Stations & 24/7 Water Pick-Up

Tulsa County residents that are homebound and who have their water shut-off due to emergency service issues can call 211 and the “Be a Neighbor” organization will deliver water to their home.

In addition to River Spirit Expo and Tulsa Fire Stations, beginning this afternoon, water trucks will be available 24/7 for residents at:

• LaFortune Park, 5837 S. Yale Ave. (*next to the golf course)
• McClure Community Center, 7440 E. 7th St. (next to the tennis courts)
• TCC Northeast Campus, 3727 E. Apache St.  (Lot 4 - enter off of Harvard)

River Spirit Expo Hours: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

• To access the expo on Sunday, enter from the south main lobby at Gate 2 - parking will be available near the Tulsa Golden Driller

Starting Monday, Tulsa Expo Square water station operations will move to the Exchange Center

• To access the Exchange Center, enter from Gate 3 and proceed northeast – parking with be available south of the building, and residents are asked to enter the South Main Lobby
• Hours will remain the same, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Tulsa Fire Stations Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• If you’re at a fire station, please be patient, as many firefighters are working on high levels of calls for service

*Residents must bring their own containers to all locations and masks are required.

Street Repairs Following Waterline Breaks

There are multiple areas around Tulsa that have had waterline repairs made, but the street itself is not yet repaired – one such case is at 25th and Harvard. The City is asking residents for patience as crews work to finish waterline repairs ahead of the street repairs that will take place in the coming weeks.

Drivers are asked to practice caution in areas where there are cones and other traffic devices present and in areas where known waterline breaks are being repaired.

Cox Media Group