In response to the toll that the ongoing drought has taken on lake levels, the Oklahoma City Council approved new progressive water conservation measures for all Oklahoma City residential and commercial water customers. Conservation measures will now be triggered based on the capacity of all six water supply reservoirs. Other cities that use Oklahoma City water are required to abide by the same program, unless a similar or stricter program is in place.
In addition, the City Council also approved an amendment for restrictions on use of water by establishing new penalties for violations of water use restrictions. Penalties for failure to comply are increasing fines of $119, $269 and $519.
The various stages of conservation are as follows:
Stage 1
Mandatory Odd/Even Lawn Watering
Lake capacity trigger – All the time
Last number of the building address – 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 – water odd number days
Last number of the building address – 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 – water even number days
Stage 2
2-day-Week Lawn Watering
Lake capacity trigger – 50 percent or less
Single-family resident address ends in odd number– Saturdays & Wednesdays
Single-family resident address ends in even number – Sundays & Thursdays
All others – Tuesdays & Fridays
(duplexes, triplexes, homeowner association properties, commercial, industrial, government)
Stage 3
1-day-Week Lawn Watering
Lake capacity trigger – 45 percent or less
Single-family resident address ends in 1 or 3 – Saturday
Single-family resident address ends in 5, 7 or 9 – Wednesdays
Single-family resident address ends in 0 or 2 – Sundays
Single-family resident address ends in 4, 6 or 8 – Thursdays
Duplexes, triplexes, homeowner association properties – Tuesdays
Commercial, industrial, government, etc. – Fridays
Stage 4
Hand Watering Gardens and Flower Beds Only
Lake capacity trigger – 40 percent or less
Hand Watering Gardens & Flower Beds Only
Commercial Car Washes with Water Recycling Operations Only
Stage 5
Ban on all Outdoor Watering & Washing Vehicles
Lake capacity trigger – 35 percent or less
For more information, go to https://www.okc.gov/watering/#stages