2010 Tulsa Annual Water Quality Report

TULSA, Okla. – Tulsa’s annual water quality report, which covers results from tests done in 2009, is being mailed to about 150,000 customers inside their June utility bills. People who do not receive utility bills may request copies of the report by calling the Mayor’s Action Center at 596-2100.

Water systems are required to test drinking water as it leaves the treatment plant and enters the distribution system. The report shows that Tulsa’s drinking water is safe and of high quality. The water quality report is required under the federal 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act amendments.

The Act gave authority to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (UESPA) to require each community water system to provide each of their customers with an annual “Consumer Confidence Report.”

—FROM THE CITY OF TULSA WEBSITE—

Water is Life. Water covers two-thirds of the Planet Earth, and makes up nearly two-thirds of our bodies. And there is no new water! All the water on the planet is constantly being recycled. We must take care of this resource.

City employees work long hours to keep Tulsa’s drinking water and storm water safe and clean. Employees staff our treatment plants 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. These trained professionals not only monitor the results of computerized tests but also conduct tests themselves every two hours.

Pipes bring raw water from our source lakes Eucha, Spavinaw, Oologah and Hudson. Professionals test this water before it enters our two drinking water plants. Those tests provide information that tells us the quantities of chemicals needed for treatment.

Sediment in our source water is a major problem. The turbidity (cloudiness) of the water is monitored throughout the treatment process. Employees even monitor finished water as it travels through the distribution system. The City of Tulsa works hard to ensure that the water that comes out of the faucet is safe for drinking, cooking, bathing and other purposes.

Tulsa has two water treatment plants, Mohawk and A.B. Jewel, that can treat 220 million gallons of water per day (MGD). Our water distribution system consists of 2,237 miles of underground water lines, thousands of valves, 145,933 water meters, 15,927 hydrants, 12 pump stations and 12 treated water storage reservoirs in the Tulsa city limits. (December 2009)

Average consumption per person in the Tulsa area is 102 million gallons per day. In 2006, we set a new record for maximum pumpage, 192 million gallons on August 10 of that year.

Stormwater Drainage

But what about storm water? When it rains, the storm water runs into Tulsa’s creeks and waterways. This water carries with it pesticides, fertilizers, motor oil and antifreeze, chemicals and pet waste, as well as trash and litter from your neighborhood. These pollutants can kill fish and harm other animals and plants that live in our water. They also increase the amount of treatment required to make the water drinkable.

City employees regularly monitor streams and storm sewers across the City. In addition, City inspectors educate area businesses and homeowners. Many people do not understand that what they do in their own yard can pollute our water.

Stormwater in Tulsa flows either into Bird Creek or the Arkansas River. These two waterways are the primary watersheds in the Tulsa area. Bird Creek receives stormwater from the north and eastern sections of the city. It eventually flows into the Verdigris River. The Arkansas River receives stormwater runoff from western and southern Tulsa neighborhoods.

Our storm water drainage system includes 439 miles of open channels, 29 miles of improved channels and 988 miles of roadside ditches.

Past Water Reports

Each year the City of Tulsa provides a Water Quality Report for those who are using water treated by our Treatment Plants. This report meets a federal reporting requirement. Residents can view reports for previous years through the following links.

2010 Water Quality Report

2010 Report

City of Tulsa Lake Eucha and Spavinaw Lake Water Quality

2009 Water Quality Report

Report front and back page information
Test Results

2008 Water Quality Report
Report front and page page information
Test Results

2007 Water Quality Report

Report Cover and Back Page Test Results

2006 Water Quality Report
Page 1
Page 2-3
Page 4

2005 Water Quality Report
Pages 1
Page 2

2004 Water Quality Report
Pages 1 & 4
Pages 2 & 3

2003 Water Quality Report
Pages 1-4

Water Hardness

Water is referred to as hard or soft because of the presence of minerals in the water. In eastern Oklahoma, much of the water used for public water supply comes from lakes (surface water). This water has flowed over the ground in streams or rivers until it reaches a lake where it is stored and eventually consumed. Another type of water- groundwater – flows through soil and permeable rock before it trickles out into a stream and eventually a lake. As water moves, it picks up minerals from the rocks and soil. Two of these minerals, calcium and magnesium, accumulate and create the “hardness” rating of your water.This rating is measured in Parts Per Million (ppm) or Grains Per Gallon (gpg). The more minerals present in the water, the “harder” it is.

Water hardness is not a safety issue. Water is safe to drink no matter what the hardness rating is.

Grains Per Gallon (gpg)	Parts Per Million (ppm)	Rating
less than 1.0	less than 17.1
1.0 – 3.5	17.1 – 60	Slightly Hard
3.5 – 7.0	60 – 120	Moderately Hard
7.0 – 10.5	120-180
over 10.5	over 180	Very HARD

Hard Water Evidence in Your Home

Decreased sudsing and cleaning capabilities of soaps and detergents, resulting in dingy laundry and reduced life of fabrics
Increased buildup of scale on plumbing fixtures and cooking utensils such as a tea kettle, coffee maker, pasta pot and dishwater
Film left on the body, resulting in dry skin and dull, limp hair
Soap scum on bathtubs, shower tiles, and basins
Clogged pipes or appliances, resulting in reduced water flow and increased repairs
Increased water heating costs due to scale buildup and mineral deposits and more frequent replacement of hot water heating elements