Photo: Clinton Steeds · CC BY 2.0Living in Poteau, OK: what to set up and who to call
The Poteau Pwa water system reported 19 health-based violations to EPA in the last five years: disinfection byproducts (TTHM) ×11, disinfection byproducts (HAA5) ×7, a lead and copper treatment requirement (Lead and Copper Rule Revisions). 80% of systems its size reported none. Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center, 1.5 miles away, is the nearest emergency room.
I’m new in town
What to set up in Poteau, and who provides it. Tap an answer for the details and where they come from.
Power, water and internet
Who to call to start service at a new address in Poteau.
Power comes from OG&E
OG&E (Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co.), an investor-owned utility, serves all of Poteau. Its homes paid an average of 12.5¢ per kWh in 2025, about $131 a month (its average across Oklahoma).
Service territory: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map dated Aug 2023). Prices and customers: EIA-861, 2025.
Water comes from Poteau Pwa water system
The Poteau Pwa water system supplies Poteau: about 82% of residents live in its service area. Leflore Co. RWD #1 serves another 16%. It buys treated surface water (EPA lists Poteau Valley Improvement Authority as seller) and serves 7,939 people in all.
19 health-based violations reported to EPA in the five years to October 2026: disinfection byproducts (TTHM) ×11, disinfection byproducts (HAA5) ×7, a lead and copper treatment requirement (Lead and Copper Rule Revisions), the latest beginning Oct 2025. 80% of the 5,012 systems serving 3,301–10,000 people had none.
The latest lead result on file, the 90th percentile of homes sampled in Jan 2023–Dec 2025, was 1.9 ppb, below the 15 ppb action level that applied. That’s higher than 65% of similar systems’ latest results.
The system’s full record: EPA ECHO report
EPA SDWIS via Envirofacts (violations pulled Oct 9, 2026) and ECHO (lead samples, 2026Q3); service area: EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3.0. Violations are counted by the start of their compliance period. OK3004015.
8 home internet providers serve Poteau
99% of 3,793 addresses can get 100/20 Mbps; 61% can get fiber.
| Provider | Technology | Addresses | Fastest (Mbps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimum | Cable | 81% | 500/20 |
| Oklahoma Windstream | Fiber, Fixed wireless, DSL | 76% | 2,000/2,000 |
| Dobson Fiber | Fiber | 10% | 1,000/1,000 |
| Circle B Wireless | Fixed wireless | 97% | 1,000/1,000 |
| 360 Broadband | Fixed wireless | 96% | 400/50 |
| AT&T | Fixed wireless | 54% | 25/3 |
FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025. Availability as providers report it, not speeds people get.
We don’t have Poteau’s trash rules yet
Pickup rules, the dump and recycling in Poteau.
Where your child goes to school
Public school districts and the school path by grade.
Most of Poteau (78%) is in Poteau Public Schools; parts are in Howe Public Schools (9%) and Wister Public Schools (8%) and Monroe Public School (4%).
A−School gradeSee Schools →U.S. Department of Education, NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25. Enrollment rules and registration are the district’s.
Town hall and registering to vote
Who to call, and how to register.
Election office: FVAP local election office directory, updated Feb 2018; jurisdictions: EAC EAVS 2024. Registration rules and links: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Poteau is in ZIP code 74953
ZIP codes where Poteau residents live, with the share of the town in each.
| ZIP | Post office name | Share of Poteau | ZIP’s residents in Poteau |
|---|---|---|---|
| 74953 | Poteau, OK | 99% | 72% |
A few homes fall in 74940, 74966.
Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, by census block; post office names: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). ZIPs created since 2020 are missing.
Getting around, the ER and the library
One line each; the subject pages have the rest.
ER: CMS hospital data. Library: IMLS Public Libraries Survey, FY2024.
Questions about living in Poteau
Who supplies Poteau’s drinking water, and has it had violations?
The Poteau Pwa water system (EPA ID OK3004015). It reported 19 health-based violations to EPA in the five years to October 2026: disinfection byproducts (TTHM) ×11, disinfection byproducts (HAA5) ×7, a lead and copper treatment requirement (Lead and Copper Rule Revisions). 80% of systems its size had none. Its latest lead 90th percentile was 1.9 ppb (Jan 2023–Dec 2025), against a 15 ppb action level.
Who provides electricity in Poteau?
OG&E (Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co.), an investor-owned utility. Its homes paid about 12.5¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA).
What internet providers serve Poteau?
Optimum, Oklahoma Windstream, Dobson Fiber, Circle B Wireless, 360 Broadband, AT&T (FCC, as of December 2025).
What ZIP codes are in Poteau?
74953. Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas.
What school district is Poteau in?
Poteau Public Schools. Parts of the city are in Howe Public Schools and Wister Public Schools and Monroe Public School.
How do I register to vote in Poteau?
In Oklahoma you can register online until 25 days before Election Day, in person until 25 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 25 days before). Elections here are run by the Secretary, LeFlore County Election Board. Check your registration at okvoterportal.okelections.us.
Sources & dates
Every answer above names its source. Here they are with their dates.
- Water: EPA SDWIS (Envirofacts, pulled Oct 9, 2026), ECHO SDWA 2026Q3, EPA CWS Service Area Boundaries v3.0.
- Power: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map Aug 2023); EIA-861 final 2025.
- Trash: OpenStreetMap, Geofabrik extract of Oct 9, 2026. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
- ZIP codes: Census 2020 ZCTA relationship files; GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0).
- Schools: NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25.
- Registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025 (read Oct 10, 2026). Official sites and area codes: Wikidata.
- Election office: FVAP local election office directory (fetched Oct 10, 2026; each record dated), EAC EAVS 2024 jurisdictions; registration and lookup links from vote.gov’s state data, checked Oct 10, 2026.
- Internet: FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025.