Lake McMurtry Pipeline Project

Stillwater is taking significant steps to safeguard our water supply by introducing a second water source from Lake McMurtry. This new pipeline project will improve the city’s water system resilience, help maintenance efforts and safeguard against outages.

Project Overview

  • Secondary Water Source: Stillwater is adding Lake McMurtry as a secondary raw water source to complement the existing Kaw Lake supply.
  • Infrastructure Requirements: The project includes constructing a 7-mile, 36-inch pipeline and a pump station to transport raw water between Lake McMurtry and the City’s Water Treatment Plant.
  • Purpose: The pipeline will enable peak shaving and support maintenance work on the Kaw Pipeline.

Lake McMurtry Water Pipeline Project

Why This Matters

Stillwater’s current water system depends entirely on a single 36-inch steel pipeline from Kaw Lake, constructed in the early 1980s. This pipeline has faced a significant number of leaks in recent years.

  • 10 leaks in 2022
  • 36 leaks in 2023
  • 15 leaks in 2024

With less than one day of raw water storage, any disruption to the Kaw Pipeline risks interrupting service for Stillwater and its regional customers. The addition of the Lake McMurtry Pipeline addresses these vulnerabilities by:

  • Increasing Storage Capacity: The new raw water system will provide approximately four weeks of raw water storage, creating a critical buffer.
  • Enabling Maintenance: The additional water source allows crews to perform essential maintenance on the Kaw Pipeline without compromising supply.
  • Protecting Against Outages: The secondary source mitigates risks of service interruptions if the Kaw Lake supply is offline.
  • Enhancing Drought Resilience: The increased storage capacity helps safeguard the city’s water supply during periods of drought.

Looking Ahead

By diversifying its water sources and investing in critical infrastructure, the City of Stillwater is proactively addressing the challenges of its aging water system. The Lake McMurtry Pipeline will provide a reliable solution to ensure uninterrupted water access for the community and its regional partners.