Tulsa
Tulsa, OK water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
tulsa
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID OK1020418
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 403,505 residents, Tulsa ranks as the 2nd-largest city in Oklahoma and a large city. Water in Tulsa 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, Tulsa faces exceptional drought conditions.
The Oklahoma state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Tulsa's water future.
Tulsa County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~403,505 (2nd-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 Tulsa?
Tulsa's largest water system, TULSA, serves about 413,000 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 1.2 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Tulsa get its water?
TULSA 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