The Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority is asking customers to conserve water to help offset the high demand likely caused by leaks in pipes that burst in sub-zero temperatures.
The Christian County Water District, which HWEA supplies, also asked its customers to follow the same recommendations.
HWEA is “experiencing unusually high water demand,” the city utility said in a press release Monday morning. Higher demand was attributed to leaks from ruptured pipes where water froze when temperatures plunged below zero in an arctic cold front, as well as increased usage over the Christmas weekend.
“As a result, we are requesting that all customers conserve water at this time,” the release states. “Now that sub-zero wind chill temperatures are no longer present, we believe that it is no longer necessary to drip faucets.”
Here are HWEA tips for conserving water.
The utility expects to learn of numerous leaks as the temperature rises above freezing.
Anyone who has a leak or notices one at a neighboring property is asked to contact HWEA immediately by calling 270-887-4246. The after-hours number is 270-887-4232.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. She spent 30 years as a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition.
