Claremore Daily Progress

Breaking News

Breaking News

Related Photos

  • The levels of Claremore water towers are getting lower and lower, according to city officials. Salesha Wilken

    water-tower2web.jpg
July 24, 2012

Bare to the Bone -City’s water towers running low, conservation requested

Salesha Wilken Staff Reporter

CLAREMORE — Claremore residents are being asked to voluntarily conserve water in light of increased water line breaks and high temperatures.

“City officials are making a plea for residents to voluntarily conserve water due to the extreme temperatures and dry weather taking a toll on Claremore’s water delivery system,” said Cassie Woods, citys communications director. 
The city’s water treatment plant is currently operating at maximum capacity,   while the amount of water needed to meet demand has not yet become a problem, water line breaks have made keeping the towers full a major difficulty.  
This results in very low water pressure, which could cause health and public safety issues soon, Woods explained. 
If the pressure in the towers gets below a certain level, the city will be forced to issue a boil order.  
In addition, if a fire starts it would be difficult for firefighters to battle the blaze without enough pressure in the lines.  
To avoid these problems, the city is urging residents to voluntarily conserve water until the towers can be completely refilled.
Voluntary restrictions include residents being asked to limit consumption during the peak hours of 5 to 11 a. m. and 4  to 9 p.m.
In addition, officials are asking residents to refrain from doing excessive outdoor watering.  
Overnight, when there is minimal usage, is when the majority of water is released into the towers.  
Shutting off an overnight sprinkler system for a few days would help tremendously to increase the pressure in the towers to a safe level, Woods said.
Another big help would be to wait to fill up swimming pools or washing cars at home until further notice, she added.
City officials hope that by asking for voluntary conservation, the problem with filling the towers will resolve itself and usage can go back to normal soon.  
“However, if residents do not help and the problem worsens, the city will have to look at mandatory rationing with the potential for boil orders in the future,” Woods said.  
City officials have recently reported a number of major water line breaks that have caused water levels in city towers to drop or drain the towers.
Most recently, residents on the westside of Claremore have been experiencing low water pressure due to these ongoing issues.
“The Talbert Tower has been drained and crews are having difficulty refilling the tower,” said Jeremy Ledbetter director of public infrastructure.
The infrastructure in Claremore still consists of a number of old lines that have limited bedding around pipes. 
With extreme heat and dry conditions causes the ground to shift as a result the lines move and often times break under the pressure, Ledbetter explained.
The towers are currently refilling slowly and a couple of leaks in the lines are being repaired, Ledbetter reported Tuesday afternoon.
Additionally, city crews rerouted some of the water lines using valve controls to the tower boost station.
At approximately 11:30 a.m water was moving back into the tower, Ledbetter added.
“It has been a headache but we are knocking it out,” he said.
Westside is a pressure zone and when water levels drop then pressure in the line drops and customers begin to see a noticeable difference in pressure.
Claremore Lake levels are currently down to 24 inches. Water is being pumped from Oologah Lake to help boost the levels, according to Ledbetter.
City officials will be reevaluating the situation in one week to determine if further action will be needed.
Citizens who have questions about the city’s request can contact the city manager’s office at (918) 341-8842.

Text Only
Breaking News
  • Moore tornado no1 Moore Tornado: Death toll revised, at least 24 killed

    Emergency crews combed the sticks and rubble remains of an Oklahoma City suburb Tuesday morning less than a day after a massive tornado slammed through the community, flattening homes and demolishing an elementary school. At least 24 people were killed, including at least seven children, and those numbers were expected to climb.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • Commissioners set Special Meeting to consider Road Tax vote validity

    The Rogers County Commissioners set a special meeting for 1 p.m. Wednesday to determine if the May 14 One-Cent Sales tax vote should be rendered invalid.

    May 20, 2013

  • UPDATE: Recent county tax vote could be invalid

    Voters went to the polls on Tuesday passing the renewal of the Rogers County One-Cent Sales Tax, however doubts over legal publication of the election are creating concern that the election could be invalid.

    May 16, 2013

  • County says yes to tax renewal

    The Rogers County One-Cent sales tax has been renewed after voters took to the polls Tuesday in small numbers to support the measure.

    May 14, 2013

  • Lady Cards win 4A soccer title

    The Verdigris Lady Cardinals defeated Ft. Gibson 3-0 for the 4A soccer title Saturday.

    May 11, 2013

  • FINAL: Zebras fall to Carl Albert 4-2 in 5A state baseball title game

    Claremore lost to Carl Albert 4-2 in 5A baseball title game.

    May 11, 2013

  • Verdigris wins 3A baseball championship

    The Verdigris Cardinals captured the 3A baseball championship with a 7-1 an over Vian.

    May 11, 2013

  • two suspect in custody UPDATE: Burglary suspect in custody

    Rogers County deputies have one burglary suspect in custody after they fled on foot in the Pine Valley area near Catoosa. One suspect remains at large.

     

    May 10, 2013 1 Photo

  • UPDATE: Home made explosive devices found in Claremore home

    Rogers County deputies and the Tulsa bomb squad are on the scene where several explosive devices have been found.

    May 7, 2013

  • REGIONAL BASEBALL SCHEDULES

    Three regional baseball tournaments will kick off today and Saturday in Rogers County.

    The No. 1-ranked Claremore Zebras will open the Class 5A regional at 3 p.m. at Legendary Legion Field. Claremore will face the loser of Game 1 between Skiatook and McAlester, who gets the regional underway at 1 p.m. Claremore will also play the winner of Game 1 at 5 p.m.

    The if necessary games will be played on Saturday at noon at Legendary Legion Field.

    * The Catoosa Regional in Class 4A will continue today at 4 p.m. with an elimination game between Claremore Sequoyah and Jay. The winner of the Claremore Sequoyah/Jay game will face Catoosa at 6:30 p.m.

    * The Oologah Mustangs will also open their 4A Regional at Metro Christian today. Oologah will square off with Dewey at 1:30 p.m. The first game of the regional will have Metro Christian taking on Cleveland at 11 a.m. The winner of the Metro Christian/Cleveland game will play the winner of the Oologah/Dewey game at 4 p.m.; and the losers of the first two games will battle in the night cap at 6:30 p.m.

    * The Class 3A No. 1-ranked Verdigris Cardinals will host regional action today at 2 p.m. at the Verdigris Baseball Complex. Verdigris faces Adair in the opener at 2 p.m., followed by Pawhuska and Perkins-Tryon at 4 p.m. The winners of both games will then play at 6:30 p.m. and the losers will play after that at 8 p.m.

    Winners of each regional tournament will advance to the State Tournament held May 9-11 in the Oklahoma City/Edmond area.

    May 3, 2013