OKC reminds customers of permanent odd/even watering schedule
Published on August 19, 2026
The Utilities Department wants to remind customers of the City’s permanent odd/even watering schedule, which is to be followed yearlong.
In response to significant droughts in 2010 and 2013, Oklahoma City Council passed the odd/even ordinance to help with overall water demand and consumption.
The odd/even watering schedule is Stage 1 of the City’s Progressive Water Conservation Program and serves two purposes: it helps alleviate overall demand on the water treatment and distribution system during peak-use periods and helps cut back on over-irrigation. The program has five stages, based on how much water is in the City’s supply lakes and the last number of a property’s address.
Customers whose property address ends in an odd number (1,3,5,7,9) are allowed to use outdoor sprinklers on odd-numbered calendar days. Customers with a property address that ends in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) are allowed to use outdoor sprinklers on even-numbered calendar days.
The odd/even watering schedule does not apply to hand watering for gardens or flower beds.
Recent ongoing drought conditions have limited the amount of water naturally flowing into Oklahoma City’s lakes. Prolonged heat and dry conditions also increase evaporation from the lakes, further reducing the amount of water available. While the City is in a good position for this time of year, customers are encouraged to remain especially mindful of their water use throughout the summer.
“We have a reliable water supply and a resilient system, but we can’t take it for granted,” said Utilities Director Chris Browning. “Simple choices about when and how much we water can make a meaningful difference in overall demand, particularly during periods of extreme heat. We ask customers to continue following the odd/even schedule and looking for opportunities to use water more efficiently.”
The Utilities water conservation team recommends checking sprinkler systems regularly to identify any issues and to ensure programming is still configured using the most efficient settings for that time of year. From identifying overly-long runtimes to hidden programs, performing a quick sprinkler system checkup can help save water and save money.
In addition to making fixes and necessary adjustments to sprinkler systems, water conservation staff also recommend customers get a soil test, such as those conducted through Oklahoma State University Extension. Healthy soil provides the right amount of nutrients for grasses to thrive and helps hold in needed moisture that decreases the need for more watering.
Other water conservation tips include the following:
- Check all sprinkler heads to ensure they are watering the grass, not the street or sidewalk.
- Repair broken sprinkler heads.
- Install pressure regulating heads to ensure even water distribution.
- Water in the early-morning hours when it’s still dark to reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation.
- Raise the blade on your mower to at least one inch high for Bermuda grass and three inches for fescue.
- Add a weather sensor or remote app to your irrigation system for better ongoing control.
- Plant drought- and heat-tolerant plants that can weather Oklahoma’s extreme temperatures.
- Install a drip irrigation system and add mulch to your flower beds and vegetable gardens to reduce evaporation.
- If hand watering, use a nozzle with a shut-off lever to save water while not in use.
For more water conservation tips, visit squeezeeverydrop.com.
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Media Contact: Jasmine Morris, (405) 297-1950, jasmine.morris@okc.gov