Is Tulsa, OK Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Where Does Tulsa Get Its Water?

Tulsa's drinking water is supplied primarily by the City of Tulsa's water system, along with Sand Springs, Creek County Rural Water District No. 2, and Osage County Rural Water District No. 15 serving various parts of the metro area. These systems collectively cover 28 ZIP codes in the Tulsa area.

The City of Tulsa operates two major water treatment plants: the A.B. Jewell Water Treatment Plant and the Mohawk Water Treatment Plant. Both facilities treat water before it reaches homes across the city.

Smaller interconnected systems, including the Sand Springs utility and the rural water districts, receive water through interties with the Tulsa system or treat water at their own facilities, ensuring service across the broader metro.

How Is Tulsa Tap Water Treated?

Tulsa's treatment process uses coagulation to clump particles together so they can be removed, followed by filtration to clear the water of suspended solids. The systems also apply additional treatment steps designed to reduce organic compounds and other trace contaminants.

Disinfection uses free chlorine, chloramines, and other disinfection approaches to kill bacteria and viruses before water enters the distribution system. A residual disinfectant stays in the pipes to protect water quality as it travels to your tap.

The treatment systems also include processes for controlling disinfection byproducts and managing turbidity, reflecting a layered approach to water safety across the multiple utilities serving Tulsa.

What's in Tulsa Tap Water?

Lithium was detected in water samples across all 28 ZIP codes in the Tulsa area, with a peak measured value of 9 micrograms per liter. There is no federal enforceable limit for lithium in drinking water; the 9 µg/L figure is at the reporting threshold, and no ZIP code tested above any health reference level.

Several PFAS compounds were also detected at very low levels. PFTrDA, HFPO-DA, and 11Cl-PF3OUdS were each found at or below 0.005 µg/L, and 6:2 FTS was detected at up to 0.005 µg/L across samples. None of these values exceeded EPA drinking water standards or health benchmarks.

PFAS are a family of human-made chemicals used in industrial processes and consumer products for decades. They can enter water supplies through environmental contamination. The levels found in Tulsa's water are below EPA limits, but some people choose to filter as a precaution.

Health Risk Profile for Tulsa

The PFAS compounds detected in Tulsa's water are below EPA drinking water standards. Lithium was found at concentrations at or below the reporting threshold, and no enforceable federal maximum contaminant level exists for lithium in drinking water. No samples exceeded any regulatory limit.

Sensitive groups, including infants, pregnant individuals, and people who are immunocompromised, may want to take extra care with any trace contaminants. Health guidance on long-term low-level PFAS exposure continues to evolve, and some health agencies recommend reducing exposure where practical.

A filter certified to NSF/ANSI 58 (the independent third-party standard for reverse osmosis systems) or NSF/ANSI P473 (for pitcher and faucet filters targeting PFAS) can reduce the PFAS compounds detected in Tulsa's water. For chlorine taste or odor, look for NSF/ANSI 42 certification on the label.

The PFAS levels found in Tulsa are low, and EPA considers them below thresholds requiring immediate action. The science around very low PFAS concentrations is still developing, so staying informed through annual water quality reports from your utility is a reasonable step.