When the Arkansas River sets the plumbing agenda
The Arkansas River divides Bixby into north and south parts. On May 22, 2019, the City of Bixby recommended evacuation of floodplain areas ahead of increased Keystone Dam releases, and local news warned of one to two feet of water in several neighborhoods and downtown.
The plumbing lesson holds either way. Outside floodwater can push back through a sewer lateral and surface at the lowest drain in the house, and it can soak a water heater or furnace that sits on a garage or utility room floor. Floodwater in the yard is not a plumbing leak, but a backup inside the house is the plumber's problem.
Sewer backups during high water
If a floor drain or tub bubbles during heavy rain, stop running sinks, showers and the washer. Every gallon you add has nowhere to go but out. A licensed plumber can clear the line with sewer line cleaning once the water recedes, and a cleanout with a backwater valve is worth asking about.
Water heaters that sat in water
A tank whose burner or element was submerged should not be relit by a homeowner, because gas controls and elements can fail after wetting. A water heater repair visit tests the controls first, and replacement is the honest answer if corrosion is inside.
Freeze season: what the Tulsa normals mean for your pipes
The National Weather Service's 1991-2020 normals for the Tulsa station put the January average low at 28 degrees, with about 72 days a year at or below freezing. The average last freeze is around March 29 and the first falls near November 3. That is a long window for exposed hose bibs, garage supply lines and attic runs.
In February 2021, Tulsa hit minus 3 degrees and the City of Tulsa logged 450 water line breaks in under a month. Bixby buys Tulsa water. Before a hard freeze, disconnect hoses, open cabinet doors on exterior walls and let a faucet drip. If a pipe bursts, close the main and call the line for burst pipe repair.
A Bixby plumbing calendar
Use this to spot the risk before it becomes a call. The 24/7 line takes any of them.
| Season | What goes wrong | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Spring rain | Sewer backup, flooded water heater | Stop using fixtures, call |
| Early summer | Dry soil shifts lines, sprinkler leaks | Check the meter with taps closed |
| August heat | Irrigation valves stick open | Shut off the zone, then the main |
| Deep winter | Frozen and split pipes | Keep heat on, drip faucets |
Weather figures come from the Tulsa station. They are not a Bixby gauge.
Lawn season and the leak you cannot see
Heavy summer watering means a lot of pipe under the grass. A broken sprinkler line or a stuck valve can waste water for weeks before the bill shows it. Turn off every tap and appliance, then read the meter. If the dial still moves, there is a leak somewhere between the meter and the house.
Bixby Public Works Authority sells water it buys from the City of Tulsa, and the city lists main-line pressure at 110 PSI. A pressure regulator brings that down inside the house, and a failing one shows as thumping pipes or a weeping relief valve. Ask the plumber to test pressure at a hose bib, and use leak detection when the meter keeps moving.
What the 24/7 line handles in Bixby
Emergency dispatch is available around the clock for 74008, including nights, weekends and storm nights. The calls follow the seasons above.
Sewer and drain backups
Floor drains rising in a storm, or every drain slow at once, point to the main line.
Water heater leaks
A tank weeping at the base or a flooded burner needs a same-day look.
Pressure problems
Banging pipes, a weeping relief valve or hard-to-control showers often trace to the regulator.
Older streets and newer subdivisions in Bixby
A May 2019 city flood notice named Pecan Park, Southtown Estates I and II, Woodland Acres and Riverview Terrace among the older areas. Newer ones include Falcon Ridge Estates (platted 2001), Legacy Park II (2002) and Seven Lakes I (2007). Census data puts Bixby's median home year at 2002.
A 2025 city housing study says South Bixby is newer, with 37 percent of homes built since 2010. The same study reports low water pressure in some outlying subdivisions. If your shower is weak across the whole house, check the main shutoff and regulator first, then ask your water provider about the street.
How the line reaches both sides of the river
The US-64 Memorial Drive bridge is Bixby's only river crossing, per the city housing study. Dispatch comes from Jenks, so tell the dispatcher which side you are on. This page makes no promise of an arrival time.
If you have a burst pipe or active leak in Bixby
Do these while the 24/7 line sends help.
Close the main
Turn the main shutoff off at the house. If water keeps flowing, tell dispatch.
Cut power to wet areas
Turn off breakers for wet rooms and stay out of standing water.
Clear the area
Lift rugs and open the cabinet or closet around the problem.
Call the 24/7 line
Call (855) 575-2890 and give your subdivision and side of the river.
How pricing works for Bixby calls
We give you a clear price before work starts. In Bixby the main drivers follow the season.
According to the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board, which licenses plumbers statewide, you can look up any plumber's licence online. Permit questions for a Bixby address go to the city.
Sudden water damage from a burst pipe is often covered, while flood damage usually needs separate flood coverage. Policies differ, so read yours.
Questions from Bixby homeowners
Yes. 74008 is the only Bixby ZIP, and it covers the city on both sides of the Arkansas River. The line also serves nearby ZIPs, including 74011 and 74012 in Broken Arrow, 74037 Jenks and 74033 Glenpool, plus Tulsa ZIPs 74133 and 74137.
Yes. The 24/7 emergency line takes calls any hour, including storm nights and weekends. A licensed plumber is dispatched from Jenks, with a clear price before work starts.
Heavy rain can overload the sewer system and push water back up the lowest drain. Stop using fixtures until it clears, and have the line cleaned. A backwater valve at the cleanout can keep it from happening again.
Banging pipes, a weeping relief valve and a running toilet are common signs. The city lists main-line pressure at 110 PSI, so ask the plumber to test at a hose bib and check the regulator.
Unsure what the storm did to your pipes? The line can talk it through. Call (855) 575-2890