Guymon declares Stage 3 water emergency amid drought shortages

Guymon moved into Stage 3 water emergency after city demand climbed above 95% of the system’s available water production capacity, forcing Emergency Water Conservation Measures across the city. The declaration affects households and businesses in Guymon and nearby Texas County areas as drought continues to strain the Oklahoma Panhandle.

The City of Guymon said it entered Stage 3 Water Emergency on July 22 and began enforcing the measures under an Emergency Proclamation issued in line with its 2024 Water Conservation Plan. A city live-feed post said the city was officially declared into Stage 3 and was implementing the emergency response. Residents, restaurants, employers and medical providers all rely on the same municipal supply, which makes the shortage a daily operating issue, not just a yard-care problem.

City officials had been warning for days that the system was nearing the line. One post said if water use went above 95% for one more day that week, the city would officially be in Stage 3. Another update put daily demand at 91.8%, with hot weather driving faster use across the community. NewsChannel10 later reported that demand rose to more than 95% of available production capacity, which triggered the emergency action.

For residents, the clearest day-to-day impact remains outdoor watering. Under a March 17, 2025 Water Emergency Proclamation, Guymon limited lawn irrigation to one day a week, with odd-numbered addresses watering on Saturdays and even-numbered addresses on Sundays. That restriction was adopted to protect water quality and keep supply available for Guymon, and it sets the baseline for how much water homeowners can use on yards and landscaping. The current emergency adds another layer of conservation pressure as the city tries to preserve its remaining margin.

The shortage lands in a region already under drought strain. A July 24, 2025 Southern Plains drought update from Drought.gov showed the area remained under stress, and the Office of the Texas Governor renewed a drought disaster proclamation on July 21, 2025. Guymon has faced this before: on July 20, 2022, the city barred outside watering after an emergency meeting over water regulations and a mayoral proclamation declared a state of emergency because the system had reduced capacity to meet residents’ needs.

The city is also still building for the future. Its Mesa Water Project is meant to expand supply for coming demand, but the current emergency shows how quickly hot weather and higher use can push Guymon back into crisis.