Norman
Norman, OK water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
norman utilities authority
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID OK1020801
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 120,284 residents, Norman ranks as the 3rd-largest city in Oklahoma and a mid-sized city. Water in Norman is sourced chiefly from reservoirs, Ogallala aquifer, and rivers, the backbone of Oklahoma's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: drought. The Oklahoma City metro's reservoir-and-pipeline system and panhandle aquifer depletion define its water profile.
Statewide, Oklahoma recycles about 7% of its wastewater with developing reuse programs. Locally, Norman faces exceptional drought conditions.
The Oklahoma state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Norman's water future.
Cleveland County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~120,284 (3rd-largest in Oklahoma)
- Primary sources: reservoirs, Ogallala aquifer, and rivers
- Drought: exceptional conditions
- State reuse rate: ~7% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Oklahoma in severe+ drought (Exceptional (D4) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Norman?
Norman's largest water system, NORMAN UTILITIES AUTHORITY, serves about 104,868 people. EPA records show 1 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 0.6 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Norman get its water?
NORMAN UTILITIES AUTHORITY draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Oklahoma's supply from reservoirs, Ogallala aquifer, rivers.
Related water issues
Drought
Much of the American West is in a multi-decade dry period that researchers describe as the most severe in over a millennium, reshaping how communities plan for water.
ExploreGroundwater Depletion
Aquifers from the Central Valley to the Ogallala are being pumped faster than they recharge, causing land subsidence and threatening long-term supply.
ExploreAgricultural Demand
Agriculture accounts for the majority of consumptive water use in the West, making farm efficiency and water markets central to any supply solution.
Explore