Tulsa Water and Waterline Update Feb. 21 - 1:45 p.m.

2/21/2021

The City of Tulsa is still trying to increase storage tank levels due to the amount of water being lost throughout the water system and continues to implement operational changes necessary to replenish storage tank levels. 

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

Nearly 50 crews are working today to fix broken waterlines and restore service to those affected. Today, the City of Broken Arrow provided the City of Tulsa with up to four additional crews and other equipment to help repair broken waterlines.

As of noon, the City was working on 98 active breaks, shutting water off at 63 of those. Today is the first day in a week where waterline breaks in Tulsa have dipped below 100.

Current water shutoffs are affecting 900 residents and 116 businesses. Since the onset of the cold weather event, the City has had a total of 311 waterline breaks, with 213 of those already repaired.

Additionally, the Tulsa Fire Department (TFD) has responded to a total of 348 private waterline breaks. These private waterline 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.  

Repairs are being prioritized based on when the waterlines are shut down. The City’s main focus is to repair waterlines and restore service to all affected customers.

To report waterline 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, with no wait times, to waterbreaks@cityoftulsa.org. 

Conserve Water
The City of Tulsa is asking all water customers to continue conserving water. Because temperatures are above freezing today, water customers can discontinue letting faucets drip to help conserve.

As more people look to wash their vehicles after this weather event, the City is asking residents to hold off on washing their vehicles until the water situation in Tulsa stabilizes.  

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. 7^th (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.

Voluntary Boil Order Still in Effect

The City of Tulsa has issued a voluntary boil order for Tulsa water customers who have experienced low water pressure, are seeing discolored water, and those who have recently had water service restored after their water was shutoff for waterline repairs. 

This advisory remains in effect.  

Please note this is a voluntary boil order issued as a precaution, not a mandatory boil order. In Tulsa, there have been no confirmed water quality violations reported at this time.

Voluntary boil orders are issued when conditions are present for a potential problem with the drinking water, but a problem has not been confirmed. These are most commonly issued for water main breaks and other low-pressure events where the possibility of contamination intrusion exists.  

In contrast, a mandatory boil order, which has not been issued, is issued by ODEQ when there is a violation of drinking water regulations.

Take these precautionary steps during a voluntary boil order:

• Boil water intended for consumption for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation - or use bottled water
• Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water
• Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker
• For more information about the voluntary order and tips, visit: cityoftulsa.org/boil

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 25^th 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.