Full Notification

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UPDATE: City of Tonkawa Civil Emergency - Water Conservation Order
February 22, 2025

TONKAWA, OK – To recap, the City of Tonkawa Emergency Management has officially declared a Civil Emergency and is issuing an immediate water conservation order for all Tonkawa Water Utility customers. The decision follows a series of infrastructure challenges stemming from the record-breaking freezing temperatures brought by the recent polar vortex storm.

Emergency Situation Overview

On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, the Tonkawa Water Department conducted an assessment of the city’s water infrastructure. During this time, crews worked to locate and repair leaks throughout the system. However, by Wednesday, February 19, it was observed that the in-town water system was struggling to sustain satisfactory levels to meet customer demand. In response, a Nixle Alert was issued urging residents to conserve water and inspect their properties for leaks. The alert highlighted the increased water strain caused by frozen pipes and leaks, requesting the public’s immediate cooperation.

System Struggles and Emergency Declaration Review

Despite conservation requests, by Thursday, February 20, the system remained in a critical state, with water levels failing to recover as needed. The necessity of dripping faucets to prevent freezing pipes was identified as a small contributing factor, but not the sole cause of the problem.  However, the dripping faucets were needed to prevent freezing lines and breaks/leaks.

On Friday morning, February 21, city crews discovered that faulty sensors had provided inaccurate water level readings, exacerbating the crisis. Additionally, normal Friday morning water usage—showers, laundry, and commercial activity—further strained the system. These factors, combined with continued leaks, led to the decision to declare a Civil Emergency and reissue a mandatory water conservation order. Large water-consuming businesses were asked to cease operations temporarily due to health and safety concerns, including fire suppression risks.

Current Update on Water System Status

We are still attempting to regain and maintain water levels. The overnight hours allow our system to recover; however, this is a very slow process. Any excessive use—whether from leaks or customer consumption—slows and hinders this recovery significantly. Unfortunately, we do not have the same advantages of regaining water levels during the daytime as we do at night.
Our system remains at a CRITICAL status.

We strictly request that Tonkawa Water customers continue making every effort to conserve water. This includes both residential and business customers on the Tonkawa Water System. Every bit of cooperation makes a difference in seeing this crisis through successfully.

We continue to request that customers survey their properties for leaks. If leaks are observed, please contact the Tonkawa Police Department at (580) 628-2516 to report them.

To improve efficiency, we have enlisted assistance from Oklahoma Emergency Management, the City of Blackwell, and the City of Newkirk, who are providing Unmanned Aerial Systems (drones). These drones will conduct grid searches using advanced technology to help identify leaks, allowing our crews to respond more effectively and be more efficient with our crews during the day.  Some drone crews are on site, at this time.  Our crews are actively prepping to survey the river for any leaks to our system.  They are equipped with special personal protective equipment to allow them to stay safe and "warm" while they survey our lines.  

We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to Oklahoma Corporation, Love’s Travel Stops, for their generous donations of food for our crews working around the clock in freezing temperatures. Additionally, Love’s has pledged large quantities of bottled water for residents, which will be delivered later today and distributed in the same manner as yesterday (Friday). This bottled water is being provided to lessen the burden of conservation efforts, and not due to any water safety concerns.
The Tonkawa water supply remains potable and safe.

Community Support and Next Steps

The key takeaways remain mostly the same as our last update:

• The water system remains in a critical state and requires immediate conservation efforts.
• Residents must continue to drip faucets to prevent further pipe breaks.  We cannot afford line breaks.
• The water remains safe to drink; there is no boil order in place.
• The crisis was caused by a combination of environmental, mechanical, and technological factors.
• The next 24-48 hours are crucial for system recovery.
• Additional support from emergency management agencies is in place if needed.

We deeply appreciate the kind words shared on social media, the outpouring of community support, and the continued cooperation with water conservation efforts. We will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.

Please stay tuned to the Nixle Alert System, City of Tonkawa Social Media Platforms, and the city website for real-time updates.

Thank you.

#TonkawaTogether

Instructions:

WATER EMERGENCY STILL IN EFFECT! Please continue to conserve water as we regain water levels.