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Water supply levels continue to plummet

Higher rates, watering restrictions could be on tap soon

Every week, the news is more dire: The City's overall water supply level continues to decline due to drought conditions in Southeast Kansas, where the watershed for the City's primary water supply source, Hulah Lake, is located.

The City launched a public awareness campaign in December of last year in hopes of increasing conservation efforts. At the time, the water supply level was at 71 percent.

Today, it's 63.6 percent.

"We would consider the 'critical' point to be 50 percent or below," said Water Utilities Director Terry Lauritsen. "At that point, we would need to have implemented pretty drastic restrictions in order to make the water that is left last as long as possible."

What's being done?

In fact, some restrictions aimed at water use reduction could be implemented as soon as next month, if approved by the City Council during its April meeting.

"The City Council is expected to consider modifications to the Water Storage Ordinance and a resolution to enact the emergency water rate provisions of the Water Shortage Ordinance," Lauritsen said. "The ordinance modifications will better define and update measures outlined in the Drought Contingency Plan, which was written following the drought of 2002."

In accordance with the plan, upcoming restrictions for the public are likely to include a combination of measures aimed at reducing consumption. Proposed measures include:

• Higher water rates
• Restrictions on outdoor watering
• Splash pad closures

Bartlesville is currently in Phase 2 of the Drought Contingency Plan, based on water supply falling between 70 and 60 percent. Some measures already implemented include the City discontinuing water use for its fleet (with the exception of sanitation vehicles) and non-essential operational uses, altering watering of parks and golf courses, notification to wholesale customers, and public education.

If these measures fail and supply continues to decline to extreme levels, pushing the area into Phase 3 of the plan, rates could go even higher, outdoor watering could eventually be eliminated altogether, and City-owned swimming pools could be closed this summer.

"The best thing that could happen, of course, is for it to rain in Southeast Kansas," Lauritsen said. "Additionally, we anticipate having the Caney River Pump Station back on-line by mid-April, so that could have an impact or at least slow the rate of decline." (The pump station was taken off-line in mid-2021 for a much-needed renovation. Supply chain issues have kept it closed far longer than anticipated.)

June: Projected critical point

While the pump station getting back on-line is welcome news, it comes just as water use for the area is expected to increase going into the summer. Water use is currently at 4.14 million gallons per day (mgd), which is about typical for this time of year, Lauritsen said.

"Unfortunately, that number typically goes a lot higher as we move into the hotter, drier months," he said. "We can spike up to 11 and 12 mgd during the hottest times of the year."

If rain is the best-case scenario, what is the worst?

"If it doesn't rain, and if our water use climbs as it would during a typical summer, we anticipate dropping below 50 percent of water supply sometime in June," Lauritsen said.

"It is imperative that we all do what we can to save water now."

Some ways you can help:

• Take shorter showers. This is the No. 1 most effective thing we can do (indoors) to conserve.
• Consider installing "low flow" plumbing, i.e., toilets, shower heads, etc. Also, replace any leaky or defective parts.
• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving.
• Never use the toilet as a wastebasket. Only human waste and toilet paper should go into the toilet — ever.
• Run the washing machine only when full and adjust the water level setting carefully.
• Stop or reduce outdoor watering.

For more information, see www.cityofbartlesville.org.

Project update

Lee Lake Complex

Contract crews laid asphalt and installed sod last week at the Lee Lake Complex, located at 2200 S.E. Adams Blvd. The multi-faceted project includes the construction of new parking lots, connector roads between the lake, Cooper Dog Park and Daniels Fields, a new soccer field, and the removal of the westernmost and easternmost drive approaches onto Adams Boulevard. Initially set for completion in May, the project is now expected to wrap up by mid-April, weather permitting.

Sales tax: Collection largest March on record

City receives first use tax revenue; $425,000 in new funds

March sales tax revenue is up 16 percent, making the month the largest March collection on-record, Chief Finance Officer/City Clerk Jason Muninger said this week.

"This is our highest March by $253,000, which is substantially higher than previous March collections," Muninger said. "We were up 16 percent over the same period last year, which puts us about 4.25 percent up for the year. That equates to roughly $711,000 over the prior fiscal year."

Muninger said the City is currently 8.9 percent above budget expectations for the fiscal year, which ends June 30.

"We budget conservatively every fiscal year, so the over-budget increases are not as surprising as they might seem on the surface," he said.

With only a couple of exceptions, City sales tax collections have shown increases over the past two years, many times with record highs. Local shopping, inflation, and stimulus funds are thought to be factors in the increases.

Use tax

The City also received use tax revenue for the first time since the tax went into effect on Jan. 1

"We have received our first use tax collection — $425,000 — but it's a little misleading because it's the January collection and an estimate for February," Muninger said. "It probably would have been somewhere between the $200,000 to $250,000 mark without the estimates included."

Muninger said City officials should have a better idea how to budget appropriately for use tax revenue after the first quarter.

"Because the use tax just went into effect in January, we have no existing data to compare trends or fluctuations," he said. "We should have a better idea of that after the first quarter, so that will help us budget for the next fiscal year."

Operation Clean House event set for April 22

Operation Clean House — the free, countywide event for Washington County residents to dispose of hazardous household and automotive goods without harming the environment or endangering human health — will be held this year on Earth Day, April 22.

The annual hazardous waste disposal and recycling event has been held locally for more than 30 years. Each year the event enables the safe disposal of more than 10,000 pounds of hazardous waste from the community for free. OCH was historically held on Earth Day but was rescheduled or cancelled in recent years due to the pandemic.



The event returns to its Earth Day roots this year, scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 22 at two locations: the Phillips 66 downtown parking lot and the District 2 Washington County barn in Dewey.

Volunteers are needed to help offload and organize the waste that is dropped off. Volunteers will receive a free t-shirt and breakfast and/or lunch. To volunteer, contact [email protected] or follow this link to complete the volunteer registration.

City to hold spring grass, leaf collection in May

The City will hold its next free residential yard debris collection the week of May 8-12.

The event is typically held twice each year, in the spring and fall, to help Bartlesville solid waste utility customers dispose of dead leaves and other yard debris for no extra cost.

Bartlesville residents can put their bagged yard debris or bundled tree limbs at their normal trash collection point on their normal trash day during the collection week, and City crews will come by and pick them up that day. The collection is for the following items only:

• Leaves
• Grass
• Lawn clippings
• Limbs and branches if cut in lengths no longer than four feet and bundled (may not exceed 50 pounds)



During the collection week only, yard debris bags will not require yard waste stickers, and clear or colored bags are allowed. The collection is for private residences only; no commercial collections will be made. There is no limit on the number of bags a resident can put out for the collection. Extra bags or items of household refuse outside the cart must have the red refuse sticker attached.

For more information, contact the Solid Waste Department at 918.338.4130.

History museum presents local park history program

The City's park system will be the topic of discussion during the Bartlesville Area History Museum's March Lunch & Learn, set for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 16. The presentation will begin at noon.

Ward 4 City Councilor Billie Roane and a surprise guest will talk about the history of Bartlesville's beautiful city parks.

The event will be held at the museum, located on the fifth floor of City Hall, 401 S. Johnstone Ave.

Guests are encouraged to bring their own lunch or enjoy light refreshments provided by BAHM. Attendees can also enjoy the museum exhibits and browse the gift shop. Tables and chairs will be set up for people who bring a lunch and for little ones to enjoy the airplane coloring station. No reservation is necessary. For more information, call 918.338.4290 or email [email protected]. 

Flushing: Why you're probably doing it wrong

According to Water Utilities Director Terry Lauritsen, only two things should be flushed down the toilet: Human waste and toilet paper.

If you're flushing anything else, you could be contributing to the No. 1 cause of sewer backups and other problems in the City's wastewater system.

"Things like fats, oils, grease (FOG), and products that say 'flushable,' such as wipes, baby wipes, and feminine products, all end up coming up somewhere for someone to deal with later, whether through a backup in the system or at the wastewater treatment plant," Lauritsen said. "We also see a lot of dental floss, hair, cotton balls, and Q-tips. These items belong in the trash, not the toilet."

Ways to keep FOG out of the system:

• Scrape and wipe dishes with your napkin before washing.
• Avoid garbage disposals — use a strainer to catch food, then trash it
• Heavy grease: Cool it. Can it. Trash it.

For more information about "what not to flush," see www.cityofbartlesville.org.

Photo by Curology via Unsplash

Jobs/open positions

Are you looking for a career that offers competitive pay, excellent benefits and an opportunity to serve your community? Look no further! The City of Bartlesville is currently accepting applications for the following positions:

• Police Dispatcher
• Police Dispatcher Part-Time
• Sanitation Collector II
• Sanitation Driver
• Assistant City Manager
• Maintenance Worker I-II – Street
• Maintenance Worker Wastewater
• Maintenance Worker Water Distribution

Applications for firefighter and police officer positions are accepted on a continual basis. To apply for these or any other open position, or for more information visit the City's website, www.cityofbartlesville.org.

Board, Committee & Commission Openings

The City of Bartlesville has numerous boards, committees and commissions that are driven by citizen volunteers. All citizens are encouraged and welcome to apply. Board applications are available online and in the City Manager’s Office, located on the second floor of City Hall, 401 S. Johnstone Ave. Applications are kept on file for two years. To view a complete list, see Boards, Committees & Commissions.

The City currently has openings on the following committees/boards:



• One opening on the Bartlesville Area Museum Trust Authority
• One opening on the Bartlesville Redevelopment Trust Authority
• One opening on the Bartlesville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Board of Directors (Visit Bartlesville)
• One opening on the White Rose Cemetery Board

For more information, visit the City's website, www.cityofbartlesville.org.

Kelli Williams, Editor

401 S. Johnstone Ave.

Bartlesville, OK 74003

918.338.4132