Guymon is officially on high alert for water use. Mayor Kim Peterson on Wednesday declared a Stage 3 water emergency after the city’s system ran close to its production limits, triggering mandatory conservation rules meant to protect enough supply for life, health and public safety. The proclamation immediately tightens outdoor irrigation, blocks filling bulk water tanks for transport outside city limits and pauses the issuance of fire‑hydrant meters. City officials say residents will get a one‑week education and notification period before any fines start showing up.
What the Stage 3 rules mean
Under the emergency order, outdoor watering is now limited to one day a week: odd‑numbered addresses can water on Saturday, even‑numbered addresses on Sunday, and no one can water on Wednesday. Sprinklers and hoses are allowed only after 7:00 PM and before 11:00 AM, and irrigation systems must be adjusted to prevent runoff. The city also explicitly bans filling bulk tanks, trailers or totes that are headed outside Guymon. For the full proclamation and complete list of restrictions, see the City of Guymon.
Why officials moved to Stage 3
City Manager Michael Shannon told reporters that on July 21 Guymon’s daily water demand climbed to about 95.4% of available production capacity. Under the city’s 2024 Water Conservation Plan, repeated use at that level can trigger escalation to higher emergency stages. Officials pointed to drought and persistent high temperatures as key stressors that have squeezed the system and cut into the reserve margin needed for firefighting and other emergencies. That near‑capacity reading, combined with the risk to public‑safety reserves, pushed leaders to act, according to News 9.
Enforcement and what residents should expect
The city says enforcement will zero in on stopping waste and runoff while protecting water pressure for emergency response. During the week‑long notification window, staff will pair enforcement with outreach and signage around town. Officials stressed that citations will not be the first move, since the immediate goal is voluntary conservation to pull demand down, but they also warned that the city’s code of ordinances will be strictly applied if violations keep happening after the education period ends. Residents who rely on hauled water should pay close attention to the new restriction on filling bulk tanks for transport outside city limits.
Where the city is looking for relief
Longer term, Guymon is banking on the multi‑phase Mesa Water Project to boost supply. The effort is designed to add production wells and transmission capacity, and the city says the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality has already signed off on Phase II construction plans. The project has attracted federal backing as well, with a White House fact sheet listing an $18 million Investing‑in‑America allocation for the Mesa Water Project to pay for well construction, modeling and related work. City leaders say bids are being advertised now and that Mesa is the main strategy to ease future summer strain on the system, with more detail in the project update on the city site and in federal program summaries.
For now, officials are urging residents to cut back on nonessential outdoor watering, double‑check irrigation timers and report any leaks they spot. They also recommend keeping an eye on local news outlets and municipal updates as conditions shift and the city’s production numbers change.
