9 Investigates Water Supply Problems Throughout Oklahoma

Many Oklahoma cities and towns deal with water supply problems. The state Department of Environmental Quality tracks this.

The DEQ doesn't have a complete grasp of the problem, because water systems are not required to notify DEQ when they shut down or impose restrictions. Even so, the agency lists 28 water systems that are under or have recently been under some sort of restriction.

Common reasons for water shortages are found under today's folder called "Water problems." Droughts, like the one in Altus, have residents restricted to watering outside only once a week. Low lake levels, like Waurika Lake, which supplies water to parts of Comanche County, where some residents have been asked to voluntarily cut back their water usage. Or Norman, which restricted outdoor water use because Lake Thunderbird was low. The city still asks for voluntary water conservation.

Other reasons for restrictions -- lack of water from suppliers. El Reno has started odd-even-day watering because it buys water from Oklahoma City, which also is on odd-even watering. And, another reason is wells that aren't working. For several months, Guymon asked for voluntary water rationing because of summer demand and wells that were out of commission.

In Konawa, since 2008, the city has received $276,000 from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for new wells and water line repairs.

And still, DEQ- tells us there have been five water shutdowns in Konawa since February 2012. Four of those happened in the last year.