Oklahoma City advances gravity sewer conversion to eliminate lift stations near Lake Hefner

Oklahoma City advances gravity sewer conversion to eliminate lift stations near Lake HefnerThe Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust is phasing out mechanical lift stations south of Lake Hefner, opting for a 30-foot-deep gravity sewer line to reduce the risk of infrastructure failures near the water body.

The Trust is replacing a series of aging lift stations with a new gravity sewer line extending to Northwest Expressway.

General Manager Chris Browning noted the shift away from mechanical systems is designed to prevent breakdowns in close proximity to the lake.

The Trust also approved a $138,000 emergency contract to repair a ruptured pipeline at the Chisholm Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.

High temperatures have driven water treatment flows up to 150 million gallons per day, causing minor drawdowns across the city's reservoirs.

The Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust is moving forward with a sanitary sewer project to decommission multiple aging lift stations south of Lake Hefner, replacing them with a new gravity sewer line to enhance system reliability and protect the nearby lake. During the Trust's August 4, 2026 meeting, General Manager Chris Browning detailed the strategy to eliminate the mechanical lift stations, which were originally installed before surrounding sewer infrastructure was fully developed. Browning emphasized that relying on mechanical lift stations near a major water body presents an ongoing operational risk. "We contemplated rebuilding the lift station, but in proximity to the lake, that just wasn't a great idea," Browning told the Trust. "We want to put in something that's not mechanical, that won't break down." The project will install a gravity sewer line reaching depths of approximately 30 feet, connecting to a broader drainage system that extends out to Hefner Parkway and Northwest Expressway. The clarification on the trench's depth addressed concerns from local residents who had previously been told the excavation could reach up to 70 feet. In separate wastewater actions, the Trust unanimously approved a $138,000 emergency contract with Wynn Construction Co., Inc. for urgent repairs at the Chisholm Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. The emergency was declared after a pipeline connecting the final clarifiers to the disinfection system ruptured and surfaced above ground, requiring immediate dewatering and plugging. Additionally, Browning noted that sustained 100-plus degree temperatures have driven water treatment flows up to between 140 and 150 million gallons per day. The increased demand has resulted in minor drawdowns across the city's reservoir system, including a 4.3-foot drop at Lake Hefner and a 4-foot drop at Lake Stanley Draper.