OKLAHOMA CITY -
This week's rain was
not the drought buster we had hoped for. That means Oklahoma City leaders will
now have to make some tough decisions to make sure we continue to have a water
supply.
OKC's water
problems are most evident at Lake Hefner, where water levels are now lower than
back in 1976 when the city first started keeping records.
Mike Hahn has been
a member of the Oklahoma City Boat Club for 23 years.
"Never saw it like
this," he said Thursday.
10/9/2013
Related Story: Drought Leads To ‘Natural Disaster' Declaration For Nearly Every
Oklahoma County
Lake Hefner is one
of six water supply lakes for the city of Oklahoma City. It would take a hard
rain that produces runoff to ease the drought. Without it, those in the water
department will have to do something. The city is considering a water release
from Lake Canton, like they did last year.
"It's an option
and we use it when we need it to replenish our drinking water supply," said
Debbie Ragan with the water department. "We don't take water from Lake
Canton for recreation."
They are already
also increasing education efforts on water conservation. And if the situation
doesn't get better by spring, mandatory water rationing may be on tap for next
summer.
Regan says they
are still hoping for a wet spring, but that was the case last year too.
"I didn't think
anyone ever expected it to last like this," said Hahn. "We've had periotic
droughts, but never two years in a row"
In Norman the city
will begin implementing mandatory water conservation beginning next week.
