Claremore Daily Progress

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August 7, 2012

RWD-4 awaits new water pump

Staff Reports Claremore Progress

OOLOGAH — Rogers County Water District No. 4 customers could see a water emergency lifted later today once a replacement pump is installed.

On Saturday, officials issued the emergency when a pump at the district’s treatment plant failed. 
Office Manager Julie Hendrix said the district did not have another pump in stock, and it would take time to determine how to proceed next.
Meanwhile, Hendrix said it is imperative that district residents —including Oologah, Talala and much of Northwest Rogers County — resume actions to eliminate all unnecessary use of water. 
She said compliance with emergency measures Saturday had been excellent.
The original emergency was declared this morning after one of two pumps bringing water from Oologah Lake to the water treatment plant failed. Officials had estimated that replacing it with another pump kept in inventory would take until 6 p.m., but the job was completed about two hours early.
However, the replacement pump failed shortly before 4:30 p.m. and the emergency was reinstated. 
That again left the plant able to produce only 1,000 gallons a minute, while normal usage for a summer day is 1,200 gpm--a deficit of 12,000 gallons per hour.
Northwest Rogers County Fire Chief David Puckett said the department had made alternate arrangements for water should a major fire occur. 
That would include drawing directly from the lakes, from ponds and from other sources not dependent on RWD 4 supplies.
The district asked that citizens stay away from the water plant due to the large number of personnel and pieces of heavy equipment involved in making repairs.

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