Our city’s top priority is to provide clean, refreshing water to its customers. Tulsa water is safe to drink and free of bacteria and other harmful substances. City chemists and water treatment plant operators test the water when it enters the pipes from our source water lakes. They continue to monitor the water throughout treatment and distribution. When the water leaves the treatment plant and flows toward Tulsa’s homes and businesses, it not only meets, but exceeds all federal requirements for public health standards.
Rainwater flows downhill over land surfaces and underground to collect in streams and lakes. As the water travels to our lakes, it dissolves minerals naturally found in rocks and soil. The water can also pick up harmful materials such as pesticides, herbicides and bacteria left in and on the ground after human or animal activity.
Tulsa’s drinking water comes from three lakes in northeastern Oklahoma: (1) Lake Oologah on the Verdigris River (in Rogers and Nowata counties), (2) Lakes Spavinaw and Eucha on Spavinaw Creek (in Mayes and Delaware Counties), and (3) Lake Hudson on the Neosho River (in Mayes County). Lake samples are analyzed to determine source water quality. Water flows from the source lakes through large pipes to Tulsa’s two drinking water treatment plants, where it is treated to meet drinking water and public health standards. Laboratory professionals and plant operators analyzed over 48,000 samples in 2024 to be sure the water supplied to homes and businesses meets regulatory requirements. This report is a summary of the test results for samples taken during 2024.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets limits on the level of harmful substances allowed in treated drinking water. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets similar limits for bottled water.
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) has studied our source lakes. ODEQ's Source Water Assessment warned that human activities could negatively impact the water. For more information about this study or how the ODEQ works to protect source water, contact ODEQ at (405) 702-8100, or visit www.deq.ok.gov/waterquality-division/watershed-planning.
Drinking water may contain low levels of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno- compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk for infections. These groups should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. The EPA and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants. For more information, contact the Safe
Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791), or visit www.epa.gov/ ground-water-and-drinking-water.
Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems.
Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and private plumbing. The City of Tulsa is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing fixtures.
The City of Tulsa is required to perform 50 customer tap samplings annually for Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) compliance. The Action Level for lead concentration in drinking water is 15 ug/L. When lead above the Action Level is found, the City of Tulsa will provide a pitcher with filter and further investigate to mitigate customer exposure to lead. When water has been sitting in pipes for several hours, customers can minimize the potential for lead exposure by opening the tap and allowing the water to run for 30-120 seconds before drinking or cooking with it. The LCR can be found at www.cityoftulsa.org/media/27372/2024-lcr-results.pdf. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may request to have it tested. More information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791),or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
To categorize service line materials and ensure the system is free of lead pipes, the City is inspecting service lines through the “True Reads” program to establish the Lead Service Line (LSL) inventory. As part of this project, the City of Tulsa is contracting out meter installations for 145,000 residential customers. During the routine meter change-out process, service line material will be visible, and contractors will inspect the service line for lead. Although it is unlikely, if your service line material is unknown, it may be lead and you will receive an annual notice until the material can be identified. A map showing the results of the service line inventory can be found at maps.cityoftulsa.org/truereads. Results are updated as work is completed. The LSL inventory spreadsheet is also available to download on the True Reads website under the section titled Service Line Consumer Notice Letters.
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