Some water towers empty; water conservation urged

Eatonton and Putnam County residents have joined the thousands of others across the state who are experiencing water supply issues due to the below-freezing temperatures. 

Levels are low in Eatonton-Putnam Water & Sewer Authority's tanks, and several of them are registering "empty," according to phone calls by residents to the newspaper. 

EPWSA's ESG Operations Project Manager Brice Doolittle says there are no breaks in any of the system's water mains and, except for very limited outages, water is still available. However, at the rate it's going, it could be totally out very soon if people do not conserve their water usage. 

Doolittle recommends people do not use water at all unless it is absolutely necessary to do so. Don't leave faucets running, such as when brushing teeth or washing dishes, but turn them off and on as needed. Also do not flush toilets unless it is absolutely necessary. This applies to both city and county customers.

He said EPWSA crews are out on the roads searching for water on the roads and conducting non-routine meter reads to find leaks. If the customer is out of town and a leak is discovered at their place, their water will be shut off until they return and call EPWSA, Doolittle said. 

Cities across the South are experiencing similar issues and many in some areas reportedly do not have any water at all due to leaks from water mains or residential/business water pipes that froze in the historically low temperatures and subsequently cracked or burst the past few days.