Altus

Two plastic jugs with red caps sit in the trunk of a car. They're both about three-quarters full of a brownish-yellow liquid, approximately the color of apple juice. The jugs are labeled in Sharpie: "0/9/13/22 P.M." and "09/13/22 A.M." Gloves and manganese test strips are also visible in the trunk.

Energy & Environment

After a month of yellow drinking water, Altus officials say they've addressed high manganese concentrations

Graycen Wheeler

High manganese levels have plagued the drinking water in the southwestern Oklahoma city of Altus since mid-August.

An aerial photo of the Port of Catoosa east of Tulsa. A barge slip and several large industrial buildings sit on or beside a waterway.

Local News

More than $440 million allocated to water infrastructure projects in Oklahoma

Graycen Wheeler

As the state legislature doled out nearly $2 billion in federal pandemic relief funds last week, about a quarter of that money went to water infrastructure projects.

A view of a large body of water between two leafy trees. Land is visible on the opposite side of the reservoir, and it features utility poles, trees and one building. A few small mountains are visible in the distance against a sky that's cloudy and pink-tinged.

Energy & Environment

High manganese levels turned its water yellow, but Altus officials say it's still safe to drink

Graycen Wheeler

Altus residents may have noticed yellow water coming from their taps yesterday. The city says that’s due to higher-than-normal manganese levels in the water thanks to a lake turnover at Tom Steed Reservoir.