(The city of Ark City issued this media statement on water usage this morning.)
Effective immediately, the City of Arkansas City is implementing Stage 1 of its Municipal Water Conservation Plan, which will stay in effect indefinitely.
The public is asked to curtail outdoor water use and to make efficient use of indoor water, such as by washing full loads of laundry, taking short showers, not letting faucets run endlessly and so forth.
On Sunday, the City observed a notable drop in water reserves in its Bryant Road standpipe.
This was due to a combination of a fire being battled Sunday by the Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department and a substantial break in a 20-inch water main near the old high-service pump station, which is out of service, at the old water treatment plant, which has since been demolished.
The areas most impacted by this disruption are located south of Madison Avenue, including ADM Milling, KanPak and Sleeth Addition. The City is aware of loss of pressure in these areas and has been redistributing water through the overall system as best as it can to supply better service there.
Specialized crews have been contacted to assist with pumping down water at the site of the main break so the Environmental Services Department can better diagnose the scope of the main break.
The inclement weather currently ongoing in the Arkansas City has contributed to hampering these efforts.
“Thank you for your cooperation and patience during this service disruption,” said Environmental Services Superintendent Rod Philo. “We know it is an inconvenience to conserve water and to experience loss of pressure, but please be assured we are working diligently to address the situation.”
The City of Arkansas City addresses its short-term water shortage problems through a series of stages based on conditions of supply and demand with accompanying triggers, goals and actions.
Each stage is more stringent in water use than the previous stage. The City Manager is authorized by ordinance to implement the appropriate conservation measures in Arkansas City as needed.
The goals of Stage 1, Water Watch, are to heighten public awareness about water conditions and to maintain the integrity of the water supply system.
This stage is triggered by conditions that indicate the probability is rising of a drought or some other condition causing a major water supply shortage, such as a large water main break. Actions include:
The City will make occasional news releases to the local media, describing present conditions and indicated the water supply outlook for the upcoming season.
Previous months’ summaries of precipitation, temperature, water levels and storage will be made public at the beginning of each month.
Water-saving tips will be included in billings to water utility customers.
The City’s water wells will be cleaned and flushed to maintain them at their most efficient condition.
Leaks will be repaired within 48 hours of detection, if possible.
The City will monitor its use of water and will curtail activities such as hydrant flushing and street cleaning.
The public will be asked to curtail outdoor water use and to make efficient use of indoor water, such as by washing full loads of laundry, taking short showers, not letting faucets run indefinitely and so forth.
