The City of Centralia is asking all of its water customers as well as those on the satellite water systems that get their water from Centralia to conserve water.
City Manager Kory Smith says the request comes as a result of rising water usage due to a number of water line breaks. He reports the deep freeze resulted in broken lines at residences coupled with some breaks in main water lines including one on the raw water line to Boulder on Carlyle Lake. Over the long Christmas weekend when temperatures dropped below zero the city handled 70 requests from residents to turn off the water due to frozen or broken service lines in addition to two water main breaks.
Smith says as the temperatures rise there has also been an increase in additional lines that are found to be broken and thawing among residences.
Officials are requesting customers to conserve water, when possible, to avoid low pressure or a reduction in the City’s water storage. Everyone is asked to limit non-essential water use such as laundry or washing vehicles over the next few days. Anyone that has left their faucets dripping during the freezing temperatures is asked to turn them off as the temperatures are rising.
Smith is also asking that any broken water lines should be reported immediately to the City between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by calling 618-533-7623 or the non-emergency number after hours at 618-533-7602.
Salem Public Works crews were also busy over the Christmas holiday weekend, receiving 35 calls from residents about broken or frozen water lines. So far the breaks and frozen lines have not caused any operational problems for the Salem water treatment plant.
