Broken Arrow Water Restrictions 2026
Tulsa County · Oklahoma
Published:
Restrictions Active - Stage 1 Conservation Advisory – Verdigris River System
3
Days/Week
Before 11:00 AM
Allowed Hours
No fines at Stage 1 Conservation Advisory
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
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| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Odd (voluntary) | Monday & Wednesday & Friday |
| Even (voluntary) | Tuesday & Thursday & Saturday |
Allowed Watering Hours
Broken Arrow operates its own Verdigris River Water Treatment Plant (completed 2014, ~$70 million capital investment) and is not primarily on Tulsa Water. The city's voluntary Stage 1 advisory aligns with the broader Tulsa metro 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM blackout convention; hand watering and drip irrigation are always exempt. Verify current status at brokenarrowok.gov before assuming any specific mandatory schedule.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any day with a shut-off nozzle.
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
No fines at Stage 1 Conservation Advisory
Stage 1 Conservation Advisory is voluntary – there are no per-violation fines at the current advisory level. Mandatory restrictions would activate only if the City of Broken Arrow declares Stage 2 under the Broken Arrow Municipal Code.
Citations begin Statewide drought conditions active🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Under the Oklahoma Residential Property Act, HOA appearance rules are subordinate to active municipal water-conservation orders. Broken Arrow's Stage 1 advisory is a city-declared conservation framework; HOAs cannot mandate irrigation that would conflict with the advisory.
If your homeowners association sends a violation notice for a dormant or brown lawn during the current restriction period, respond in writing citing the applicable law and include a copy of the current restriction order from City of Broken Arrow – Water Utilities. Most HOAs will rescind the notice once they are made aware of the legal protections in place. If the issue persists, contact your county’s code enforcement division for assistance.
Why These Restrictions Exist
Broken Arrow is served by the City of Broken Arrow Water Utilities Department and operates its OWN Verdigris River Water Treatment Plant – completed in 2014 at a capital cost of approximately $70 million. The plant draws raw water from the Verdigris River and processes it through Broken Arrow's distribution system independently. Broken Arrow has supplemental tie-ins to the Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority waterlines in two locations for backup supply (from Tulsa's Lake Eucha, Lake Spavinaw, and Lake Oologah system), but the Verdigris River WTP is the city's primary source – Tulsa water is supplemental backup, not the primary supply.
Historical context: Before the 2014 WTP completion, Broken Arrow had relied on the Oklahoma Ordnance Works Authority for drinking water via a 27-mile pipeline from Pryor (a 1979-era arrangement when the city had a population of 35,000). The 2014 plant ended over 25 years of dependence on purchased wholesale water.
Statewide context: Oklahoma is in active drought. Tulsa County is in D1 Moderate Drought per the US Drought Monitor. The February 2026 Ranger Road Fire (283,283 acres – the largest US wildfire of 2026) drove regional burn bans across central and eastern Oklahoma. Tulsa-system reservoirs (Lake Eucha, Lake Spavinaw, Lake Oologah – relevant to Broken Arrow as the supplemental supply source) stand at roughly 72% of capacity.
Local context: Broken Arrow is Oklahoma's 4th-largest city and Tulsa County's largest non-Tulsa city. The Cherokee Nation has some land jurisdiction within Broken Arrow city limits; tribal water sovereignty for those parcels coordinates with the city's framework. Indian Springs Country Club and Broken Arrow Public Schools are major institutional irrigators on the Verdigris WTP system.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Broken Arrow area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Broken Arrow Water Restrictions
11 tips tailored for Broken Arrow homeowners during Stage 1 Conservation Advisory – Verdigris River System restrictions.
Broken Arrow draws primarily from its OWN Verdigris River Water Treatment Plant (completed 2014) – Tulsa water is supplemental backup only, not the primary supply.
Verify Broken Arrow's current advisory level at brokenarrowok.gov before assuming any specific mandatory watering schedule.
Bermuda dominates Broken Arrow lawns; tall fescue is common in older neighborhoods near Adams Road and Elgin Park but browns severely under Oklahoma summers.
Cycle-and-soak on Broken Arrow's red clay soils: 8 minutes on, 30-minute pause, 8 minutes on – prevents runoff on the clay soils common across the Tulsa metro.
Mulch ornamental beds 3 inches deep with arborist wood chips; bare soil in Tulsa-metro summer heat loses 0.5+ inches of moisture per day.
Drip-irrigate trees, shrubs, and vegetable beds – drip is exempt from any current or future day-of-week limits.
Audit sprinkler heads monthly for overspray onto sidewalks and driveways; the city responds to citizen complaints under Broken Arrow Municipal Code.
Skip scheduled cycles after 0.25 inch or greater rainfall in the prior 48 hours; Oklahoma rain sensors are required on systems installed after 2010.
Convert parkway strips to Oklahoma natives (Buffalo Grass, Indian Grass, Little Bluestem) – low-irrigation conversion targets aligned with city conservation guidance.
Track monthly use at brokenarrowok.gov utility portal; the city flags high-use accounts for follow-up.
Harvest rainwater off downspouts into rain barrels – Oklahoma law permits residential capture without restriction.
Broken Arrow Water Restriction FAQs
What days can I water my lawn in Broken Arrow?
What hours can I run my sprinklers in Broken Arrow?
What are the fines for water violations in Broken Arrow?
Can I install new sod or seed in Broken Arrow during restrictions?
When will water restrictions end in Broken Arrow?
Broken Arrow has its own utility but our water comes from Tulsa – same rules as Tulsa?
Cherokee Nation tribal land within city limits – do tribal homes follow city ordinance?
I'm in Tulsa County but my address says Broken Arrow – Tulsa or BA schedule?
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