Feedback: Low Water Supply Causing State Of Emergency

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Story Published: Nov 5, 2009 at 5:01 PM EDT

Story Updated: Nov 5, 2009 at 7:57 PM EDT

Ellen Fish lives in the village of Adams and is doing her part to conserve water.

"I have been trying to only do my dishes once a week...and the same with washing, doing my washing," she said.

The villages of Adams and Adams Center are asking all residents to conserve water since a state of emergency was declared earlier this week.

There are two major problems causing a water shortage:

  1. the amount of construction going on, including construction on one of the village's main water towers
  2. the village water tables are extremely low

"All of this is contributing to a little bit of stress on our water system and then the wells are not recovering as quickly as we need them to," said Adams Mayor Patricia Sweetland.

Now the village is being forced to get water from two other reserves that had to be approved by the State Health Department.

Mayor Sweetland says the water is safe to drink.

"It has nothing to do with the quality of the water. It has to do will the supply of the water," she said.

Declaring a state of emergency affects more than just where the village will get its water. 

The fire department is also being asked to make some major adjustments.
 
"We can't use the hydrant system so we have to rely on our mutual aid," said Adams Fire Chief Brian Berkey.
 
If there is a fire, no water can be used until a tanker from a neighboring department arrives.

Mayor Sweetland says this is just temporary and hopes to lift the state of emergency within the next two weeks.
 
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