The Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority declared a water shortage warning Tuesday morning and ordered restrictions on certain uses, including washing vehicles. Some customers could begin to have low or no water pressure, officials said.
The utility is continuing to experience unusually high water demand attributed to pipe leaks following extremely cold temperatures over the Christmas weekend, HWEA said in a press release from General Manager Derrick Watson.
“Now that sub-zero wind chill temperatures are no longer present, we believe that it is no longer necessary to drip faucets. We also believe there will be numerous leaks reported to HWEA as the temperature rises above 32 degrees,” the release states. “If you have a water leak or see a water leak at a neighboring property or business, please contact our office immediately in order that we can investigate.”
Customers can call HWEA’s main office at 270-887-4246 or the after-hour number at 270-887-4232.
HWEA is temporarily restricting the use of all Class 1 water, which includes, “Water used for outdoor watering, either public or private, for gardens, lawns, trees, shrubs, plants, parks, golf courses, playing fields, swimming pools or other recreational areas; or the washing of motor vehicles, boats, trailers or the exterior of any building or structure.”
Vehicle owners who are eager to clean salt and grime from their cars and trucks after traveling snow- and ice-packed roads over the holiday weekend will need to wait a while longer.
Jason Bell, a Hopkinsville city councilman who owns Car Spa on North Main Street, said in a Facebook post that HWEA contacted him about the water restrictions. Utility officials said they would turn off the water meter at any business that ignored the restriction, he said.
Tuesday’s warning and restriction order followed a request Monday from HWEA and the Christian County Water District that customers limit water usage. HWEA supplies water to the county utility.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
