Sayre, OK – City officials in Sayre say water service has been fully restored following a major 12 inch transmission line break early Christmas morning, with testing now underway to lift the city’s precautionary boil water advisory.
City Manager Ted Lawson said the break occurred around 3 a.m. Christmas Day when alarms showed a sudden drop in pressure at the city’s south pump station. A large hole developed in the 12 inch main that brings water into Sayre, cutting off the city’s primary water supply.
Lawson explained the location of the line made repairs difficult and dangerous. The pipe was buried beneath several feet of rock, concrete, and rebar from material brought in years ago during bridge removal work. Crews spent hours trying to locate and isolate the leak, but several older valves would not fully shut down the line, forcing the city to temporarily shut down the main pump station.
After repeated cave ins made it impossible for a backhoe to reach the pipe, Beckham County District 1 Commissioner Carl Don Campbell provided a track hoe to safely excavate the area. Crews ultimately removed and replaced a 12 foot section of pipe after an attempted patch caused the damaged line to split further.
Water service was restored by about 5 p.m. Friday, with system pressure brought back above the required minimum of 25 pounds per square inch. Lawson said the system is now running between 75 and 80 psi.
Following guidance from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, the city issued a precautionary boil water advisory Friday evening. To lift the advisory, the city must maintain proper pressure for at least 72 hours and show acceptable chlorine residual levels throughout the system.
Lawson said chlorine levels are currently strong, averaging around 1.0 residual, well above the minimum requirement. City crews began collecting bacteriological samples across town Monday, with a second round scheduled Tuesday. If both sets of samples return clear, the advisory could be lifted as early as Wednesday.
During the outage and recovery, bottled water was distributed to residents, including deliveries from North Fork and additional supplies staged for pickup. A potable water truck was also arranged to provide safe drinking water if needed. City staff contacted elderly residents directly to ensure they were informed, while notices were posted at businesses and updates shared through social media and the city website.
Lawson praised the community response, thanking county officials, neighboring cities, local businesses, and residents for providing equipment, supplies, food, and support. He also commended city employees who worked through hazardous conditions and spent Christmas away from their families to restore service.
Officials stress the boil advisory remains precautionary and residents should continue boiling water until the city announces it has been lifted. Residents with questions are encouraged to contact City Hall.
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