Staff report
Officials with the City of Salisbury said this morning that residents should continue to conserve water as efforts are made to repair electrical damage at the Yadkin River pump station.
But the situation is far improved over what it was Thursday night.
“I feel a whole lot better today than I did yesterday,” said Jim Behmer, director of Salisbury-Rowan Utilities.
The conservation measures were implemented Thursday as a result of a loss of power at the intake that prohibited the pumping of raw water to a city reservoir.
Behmer said a transformer at the pump station was replaced by Duke Energy. Other electrical damage to the station is continuing to be repaired.
“Duke has checked out the new transformer,” Behmer said. “Their part is done.”
He said an emergency interconnection with Statesville is functioning and Salisbury is receiving potable water directly into its distribution system.
Its reservoir is being filled and Behmer said that support will allow Salisbury to regain its water levels. In addition, temporary diesel pumps are up and running and filling the city’s reservoir.
Behmer said he’s optimistic the problem will soon be corrected.
“We’ll be working 24/7 this weekend to get it taken care of,” he said.
Thursday afternoon, city officials asked Rowan-Salisbury Utilities customers to initiate Level II mandatory water conservation measures. The Level II restrictions are not drastic. People are asked not to wash their cars, though commercial operations may continue.
The measures also ask customers to limit the use of washing machines and dishwashers and leaving water running in households.
The City of Salisbury has promised to continue updates pertaining to the situation. Citizens and Salisbury-Rowan Utilities customers and users may call its office at 704-202-4660 and speak to Services Manager Patrick Kennerly.