Low Lake Levels Prompts Voluntary Water Restrictions In Norman

Gan Matthew, News 9

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- Norman gets 75 percent of its water from Lake Thunderbird, but the lack of rainfall recently has reduced the lake level about three feet below normal.

Last month the Manager of the Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy District sent a letter to city officials in Norman suggesting they begin a program of voluntarily reducing water use by five percent.

"We're concerned that we could be seeing a repeat of the drought of record, which would be in the 50s," said Randy Worden, Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy District.

Norman Mayor Cindy Rosenthal said if voluntary odd-even conservation doesn't work in the weeks ahead and the drought persists, then Norman would have to consider mandatory water restrictions.