Mayor Jack Smiley calls on Altus residents to be stewards of water supply in honor of Drinking Water Week.
The City of Altus and the American Water Works Association or AWWA are celebrating Drinking Water Week and the role clean drinking water plays in the United States.
The city workers have been operating a public water system since 1927, the year the Ambursen Dam at Lake Lugert-Altus was completed and the first water treatment plant for the area was built.
As part-owner of the Mountain Park Master Conservancy District, the money from the city for construction and maintenance gives the municipality water rights from assures the reservoir.
“The water currently produced is the cleanest, safest water ever produced in our city’s history.” Supervisor Gene Leister, Senior Operator Ronnie Jones, Lab Technician Rick Stebbens, and operators Tim Williams, E.M. Collier, Tim Jeffrey, Tia Dameron and C.J.
Morris have been licensed by the State of Oklahoma through a process that includes higher level algebra and chemistry exams.
According to Barron, the Altus Water Treatment Plant runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week and stores about one day’s worth of treated water in case the plant needs to be shut down for short-term maintenance.
We are extremely proud of the work accomplished by our water treatment operators.” Access to water from Tom Steed Reservoir not only provides drinking water to Altus residents, but also provides fire protection, supports industrial and commercials business and promotes a healthy environment, Barron said.
We should all know how to find and fix leaks, care for our home’s pipes, and support our utility’s investment in water infrastructure,” AWWA Chief Executive Officer David LaFrance said.
Reach Katrina Goforth at 580-482-1221, ext.