Chlorine is a very effective disinfectant; we use it in our drinking and pool water to prevent organisms from growing in it and making us sick. However, when it's necessary to clean pools, there are proper steps that need to be taken to reduce the amount of chlorine in the water before draining.
If a pool is being drained into the street, the uncleansed/untreated water goes to a storm drain which drains directly into the nearest stream. When the chlorine is still at high levels this detrimentally affects the aquatic life in the stream.
Here are the steps you can take to keep our water healthy and safe:
Drain your pool water into the sanitary sewer system. The water will go into the drains from your property to a wastewater treatment plant and be treated before it is discharged back into the river.
Stop using chlorine, other chemicals and even the heater in your pool at least 72 hours prior to draining it onto a vegetated area on your property. Make sure the water soaks into the ground and doesn't enter a stream or storm drain.
Water should contain no more than .1 mg/L of chlorine and have a pH near 7 for either disposal method.
For more information, visit the City of Tulsa's website at www.cityoftulsa.org/sos for a list of instructions on pool maintenance and other ways you can help Save Our Streams.
Join Us for Bark In the Park Wednesdays!
The City of Tulsa's Save Our Streams program is sponsoring the Bark in the Park events on Wednesdays - July 27, Aug. 10 and Aug. 24 at ONEOK Field.
We're dedicated to informing pet owners of their responsibility to pick up after their pets.
Bacteria, including e-coli, found in pet waste from warm-blooded mammal's digestive systems can make its way into our storm drains and end up in creeks that run throughout the city.
With a significant population of pets within our city, each of us can help prevent this source of pollution from entering our waterways.
To help pet owners with this task, we will be handing out pet waste bags for their pets to ensure our streams remain free of pet waste pollution.
Species Sportlight: Freckled Madtom
While many Tulsans are familiar with catfish species in our creeks and streams, a very important catfish often goes over looked. The Freckled Madtom is a resident of the City of Tulsa streams that is a very good indicator of our water quality.
This small brown catfish has tiny freckles all over its body, and it does not grow much larger than five inches in length. This unique catfish spends most of its time hidden under rocks in gravel bed streams and becomes more adventurous at night.
The Freckled Madtom primarily feeds on benthic macroinvertebrates, but is not above snacking on the occasional crayfish. They prefer flowing water and sometimes will even lay their eggs under large rocks in fast-moving riffles. The males will create and guard nests until the babies hatch and go off in search of their own hunting grounds.
The Freckled Madtom is moderately intolerant to pollution, so finding this species in a collection is a welcome surprise in the City of Tulsa streams.
Upcoming Events
Dog Days of Summer September 8
Join us for the Tulsa Deco District 4th Wednesday event series, Sept. 28, starting at 6 p.m. at the HA Chapman Green Park.
We will be there to help beat the "Dog Days of Summer" by encouraging pet responsibility to help Save Our Streams and keep pet waste out of storm drains and our waterways.
Monarch on the Mountain
September 24
Beautiful places and green spaces do more than make our city look pretty, they help to preserve our water quality and encourage pollinators.
We will be participating in the Monarch on the Mountain event, Sept. 24 at Turkey Mountain from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come enjoy the green spaces and learn how you can help with these worthwhile causes.
BooHaHa Parade
October 29
The BooHaHa Parade is one of our city's most celebrated family fall events. Our crew will be joining the Crow Creek Community Initiative to hand out candy at BooHaHa.
This will be a great opportunity to help inform Tulsans of the ways they can help keep our streams clean. Please join us Oct. 29 on Brookside for a fun-filled family time.
