Where Tulsa’s Water Comes From
The City of Tulsa Water and Sewer Department serves approximately 500,000 people through two primary surface water sources: Spavinaw Lake and Lake Eucha (which supply the A.B. Jewell Water Treatment Plant) and Oologah Lake (which supplies the Mohawk Water Treatment Plant).
These reservoirs are located in northeastern Oklahoma’s Ozark Plateau and rolling prairie — regions where land use is a mix of agriculture, livestock operations, and rural residential development. The quality of Tulsa’s drinking water is directly tied to what happens in these watersheds.
Algae and Taste Issues
Tulsa has struggled with taste and odor problems linked to algal activity in its source lakes. Spavinaw Lake and Lake Eucha, in particular, have been affected by nutrient loading — primarily phosphorus from poultry litter (the region is home to major chicken farming operations) and cattle operations in the watershed.
Excess phosphorus fuels algal blooms, which produce compounds like geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) that give water an earthy or musty taste and smell. These compounds aren’t harmful, but they make the water unpleasant to drink and generate customer complaints.
Tulsa has invested in treatment upgrades, including activated carbon and ozone treatment at the Jewell plant, to address taste and odor. The city has also pursued legal action against upstream poultry operations — most notably a 2005 lawsuit against Tyson Foods, Cargill, and other integrators, alleging that poultry waste was polluting the city’s water supply. That case, while ultimately settled, highlighted the tension between agricultural industry and municipal water quality.
The phosphorus problem hasn’t been fully resolved. Watershed management efforts continue, but the legacy of decades of poultry litter application on pastures means phosphorus-rich soil continues to release nutrients into waterways during rain events.
Lead Infrastructure
Tulsa’s older neighborhoods — particularly those in Midtown, North Tulsa, and the historic districts around downtown — have housing stock from the early-to-mid 1900s that may include lead service lines and lead solder in interior plumbing.
The city uses corrosion control treatment (orthophosphate addition) to minimize lead leaching and has met the EPA’s action level of 15 ppb at the 90th percentile in system-wide testing. But as with other cities, individual homes with lead pipes can experience higher levels.
North Tulsa faces compounding environmental justice concerns — the area has historically received less infrastructure investment, has older housing stock with higher lead exposure risk (both from water and paint), and has a predominantly Black population that has borne disproportionate environmental burdens.
The EPA’s revised Lead and Copper Rule is driving Tulsa’s lead service line inventory and replacement planning.
Disinfection Byproducts
Managing disinfection byproducts is an ongoing challenge for Tulsa due to the organic matter content of its source lakes. Algal blooms and decomposing vegetation increase DBP precursors, and the treatment process must balance pathogen disinfection against byproduct formation.
Tulsa’s treatment plants use a combination of ozone (which produces fewer regulated DBPs than chlorine alone) and chloramine for secondary disinfection. This approach has helped maintain compliance with EPA limits for TTHMs (80 ppb) and HAA5 (60 ppb), though seasonal variations can push levels higher.
PFAS and Industrial Contamination
Oklahoma has been slower than some states to address PFAS, but emerging data is filling in the picture. Tulsa’s potential PFAS sources include:
- Tulsa International Airport — AFFF use in fire training
- Military facilities — the Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 138th Fighter Wing operates at the airport
- Industrial sites — the Tulsa metro area’s oil refinery and manufacturing history includes facilities that may have used PFAS-containing products
The EPA’s 2024 PFAS rule and UCMR 5 testing will provide more comprehensive data. Oklahoma hasn’t adopted state-level PFAS drinking water standards, relying on federal regulations.
The broader Tulsa area also has Superfund-legacy contamination. The Tar Creek Superfund site in Ottawa County — one of the largest mining waste cleanup sites in the country — has contaminated surface water and groundwater with lead, zinc, and cadmium from decades of lead and zinc mining. While Tar Creek is northeast of Tulsa’s watershed, it illustrates the region’s industrial contamination legacy.
Arsenic and Natural Contaminants
Some areas of Oklahoma — particularly those drawing groundwater — face naturally occurring arsenic and radionuclide contamination. Tulsa’s surface water system is less affected, but residents on private wells in the Tulsa metro area should be aware of potential natural contaminants depending on their well depth and aquifer.
Nearby Oklahoma City faces similar arsenic challenges from its groundwater sources.
What Residents Can Do
- If you notice earthy or musty taste, it’s likely geosmin from algal activity — not harmful but annoying. Activated carbon filters (learn more in our water filter guide) (including pitcher filters like Brita) effectively remove these taste compounds
- Flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before drinking, especially in older homes, to clear any accumulated lead from pipes
- Use cold water for cooking and baby formula — hot water leaches more metals from plumbing
- Consider a certified water filter — NSF/ANSI 53 for lead, activated carbon for taste/odor and DBPs, NSF P473 for PFAS
- If you’re on a private well, test annually for bacteria, nitrates, and consider testing for arsenic and lead
- Report persistent taste or odor issues to Tulsa Water and Sewer — it helps them track treatment effectiveness
If you’re concerned about your water quality, a certified water treatment professional can test your water and recommend solutions appropriate for Tulsa’s specific water chemistry and seasonal challenges.
Sources
- City of Tulsa Water and Sewer Department, Annual Water Quality Reports
- Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Drinking Water Program
- EPA SDWIS, Tulsa water system compliance records
- Oklahoma Water Resources Board, Water Quality Standards
- Environmental Working Group, Tap Water Database
- Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority, Watershed Protection Reports