(KAIR)--The City of Atchison is calling on all of its water customers “to employ voluntary water conservation measures to limit water uses until further notice.”
That- according to a release issued Wednesday afternoon by the City, which says, due to river conditions, a lack of conservation “could result in complications impacting [the City-] ability to draw and store water and provide water service to Atchison residents, businesses, and agencies.”
The release, issued by Atchison City Manager Amy Finch, calls potential issues stemming from the Missouri River- current conditions “a perfect storm potential for a critical situation.”
The release explains that the City, on Tuesday, “became aware of an ice jam in the river moving [toward the City] over the next few days,” adding that the ice jam, making its way from Nebraska, “is causing the river to back up,” with the City anticipating another one-and-a-half-foot drop in river levels over the next 48 hours,” as of Wednesday afternoon. The drop, the release explains, “creates a unique and unprecedented situation with the convergence of several factors,” with the City currently “relying solely on the auxiliary intake pump to pull water from the river until river levels are restored after the ice jam passes.”
The current low river level has made it impossible for the City to use its permanent intake pump at the river, leading to use of the auxiliary intake pump.
Reliance on the backup pump, the release notes, “creates a fragile situation,” explaining that the combination of factors means the City- ability to produce water “at normal capacity is more vulnerable, or at risk, than normal,” leading to the call for voluntary water conservation.
Voluntary cooperation in conserving water, the release says, “will help [the City] mitigate the effect of the [current factors] that could result in complications impacting [the City-] ability to draw and store water and provide water service.”
That- due to “freezing temperatures potentially affecting the function of the auxiliary pump system, and extremely cold temperatures that may cause water main breaks,” with the approaching ice jam possibly meaning “complications which impact [the City-] ability to draw water from the river and/or maintain a maximum amount of water storage” for a three day supply.
The voluntary water conservation effort will stay in place until further notice.
© Many Signals Communications
MOST VIEWED STORIES
Holton man killed in Jackson Co crash
Morrill pair arrested on drug, child endangerment charges
Cold case investigation leads to Holton warrant
Effingham owner regains truck following theft, arrest
Horton City Clerk's resignation accepted Monday
Local residents avoid injury in chain reaction crash
90 mph+ downburst winds blamed for Thursday damage
Former Kickapoo Tribal chairman arrested
Wamego man sentenced in second fentanyl-related death
Mayetta pair arrested on meth, child endangerment charges
Winchester native named as Amberwell CEO
Stolen trailer, 4-wheeler, recovered in Atchison
Juveniles face charges following Atchison break-in
Atchison Co's Oswald named honorary bailiff for KS Court
Holton property search concludes with arrest
Two arrested following Friday Jackson Co traffic stop
McLouth man injured in Monday wreck
No injuries in early Sunday morning house fire in Falls City
LATEST STORIES
NPPD urges farmers to be safe around power lines
Arbor Day proclaimed in Atchison
Former AG Schmidt running for KS' 2nd Congressional District
Doniphan Co Commission approves overlay projects
Holton property search concludes with arrest
Former Kickapoo Tribal chairman arrested
Atchison company earns energy grant; upgrades planned
Winchester native named as Amberwell CEO