Newcastle residents forced to ration water

By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

NEWCASTLE, Okla. -- The last rains somehow missed the city of Newcastle in McClain County, making water in short supply there.

People are being asked to cut back on water usage.

High demand and higher temperatures have made it hard to keep the Newcastle water towers full. On Monday citizens learned by phone the city was in a water emergency.

Even-numbered addresses can water outside on even-numbered days. Odd-numbered addresses can water outside on odd-numbered days. No watering is allowed any day from Noon to 10 p.m.

"That way we should have enough pressure for people to be able to take showers, to run their dishwasher, their laundry, those kind of things," Nick Nazar, Newcastle City Manager, said.

Violators--four so far--get handed out a flier as a reminder.

One even-numbered address appeared to be in violation Wednesday afternoon, but the homeowner said was not using city water.

"We decided to dig a well for the outside water, and that's what we use it for, only the outside water," Barbara Miller, Newcastle resident, said.

The low water pressure worries the Newcastle Fire Chief.

"Inadequate water pressure, you can't fight the fire like we're supposed to and we have to bring in extra help, extra tankers," Kevin Self, Newcastle Fire Chief, said. "May take us a little longer because we have to travel farther to get that water."

The long-term solution could be a pipeline to Oklahoma City that will quadruple Newcastle's water supply. The short-term solution may need to be wishful thinking.