Claremore Daily Progress

Breaking News

July 18, 2012

RWD-3 implements water rationing

Randy Cowling Editor

CLAREMORE — Effective immediately, Rogers County Rural Water District No. 3 customers are under a mandatory water rationing schedule. District officials announced the rationing Wednesday due to increase usage.

The mandatory water rationing is for all non-essential water usage which includes landscaping, yards, trees, gardens, car washing and pools, according to RWD-3 General Manager Rick Stull. 
However, the district is instituting an every-other-day usage plan for customers, similar to the plan it utilized in 2011.
Rationing has been prompted by customers using more water than the district can produce, Stull said.
The district’s storage facilities are “very low and water for fire protection could be jeopardized” without implementing a rationing plan.
Alternating Schedule
Customers living  west of North 177Th East Avenue are allowed water outside only on Monday, Wednesday and 
Friday.
Residents living east of North 177th East Avenue and west of the Verdigris River or west of the Caney River may water outside only on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Customers living west of NS-4150 Road (Owalla Road), east of the Verdigris River and/or east of the Caney River may water outside on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 
Residents living east of NS-4150 Road (Owalla Road) may water outside only on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. 
The district is mandating no watering on Sundays for all customers. 
“Non-complying customers will be written a warning for the first offence and for any subsequent offense(s) non-complying customers risk the shutting off of their water at the meter,” said Stull.  “The situation has become extremely serious and if the mandatory water rationing is not honored, and the current conditions remain, the District will have to further curtail usage by further and more stringent rationing which would ban all non-essential water use, implement fines and turn off meters for any non-complying customers.
“Without the cooperation of all patrons the water supply of the District could reach critically low levels, affecting potable water supplies and water available for fire protection. If everyone will conserve and follow the schedule carefully, hopefully we can get through this difficult time.”
The district is working on existing problems, according to Stull.
Several pump failures ocurred Tuesday and workers are addressing the situation. An automated valve malfunctioned Tuesday, but is being repaired.
Stull said there have been numerous power surges from power companies.
Following the drought conditions in 2011, completed 11 pipeline projects to benefit higher elevations.
“RWD-3 wants our customers to understand, although we have worked very diligently, we've not had time to complete all the extensive, planned projects,” said Stull.
Several projects, including two miles of 16-inch water line on SH 88 that serves the Keetonville area, and emergency generators at Keetonville Pump Station, Lipes Pump Station and West Foyil Pump Station are projected to be completed by this fall, according to Stull.
The district also is working on 2013 projects, which include one mile of 16-inch water line on SH 88 that serves the Keetonville area and 3/4 mile of 12-inch water line on SH 88 that serves the Keetonville area. These projects should be completed by January 2013.
Projects the district hopes to be completed by summer 2013 include a 1.5 million gallon elevated storage tank in Owasso that serves the entire Owasso system and a 1-1/4 mile of 12-inch water line along North 177Th East. Avenue that serves the entire Owasso system.
For more information go to rwd3rogers.com.

Text Only
Breaking News