Georgetown water customers must limit water use to essential use as water system recovers from storm.

Georgetown water customers must severely restrict all use of potable water effective 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, when a safe and adequate water supply for public use is expected to be restored.

This means all Georgetown customers are prohibited for non-essential uses. Non-essential water uses are uses that are not required for the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare. All Georgetown customers are prohibited from:

• Using water for irrigation or testing of irrigation equipment
• Washing vehicles, including at commercial car wash facilities
• Washing pavement or other surfaces
• Adding water to a pool or spa
• Flushing gutters
• Conducting foundation watering
• Operating an ornamental fountain or pond, other than aeration necessary to support aquatic life.
• Industrial water use

Violations may result in administrative charges on customer bills. Reports of violations should be reported to [email protected]. Staff is working to notify businesses.

Customers can further help by limiting using appliances that use a large amount of water, such as washing machines and dishwashers, and taking baths.

“Our water system, and the systems of neighboring communities we are connected to, continue to recover but remain in critical condition,” said City Manager David Morgan. “Everyone limiting our water use to essential needs for a few days will be vital to helping restore services and lift boil water requirements. We are grateful for everyone’s patience and cooperation as we continue working nonstop to recover from this storm.”

The City of Georgetown is enacting Stage 3 of the Drought Contingency Plan for all its customers, because the recent ice storm created a demand for water that exceeds the supply, and severe conservation measures are required to maintain the ability to provide the proper level of service.

A boil water notice is still in effect for about 720 Georgetown water customers in Florence due to sustained low pressure and an inability to adequately flush water system in the area. The City expects to submit samples for water testing from Florence Sunday, Feb. 21. All other boil water notices have been lifted.

Please check the outage map for the latest information. Areas with a boil water notice are shown in yellow, and areas with a boil water notice and known outages are in pink.

The City is providing two water-filling stations Sunday: From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Florence and from noon to 5 p.m. in Georgetown.

Customers in the boil water notice area are able to shower and bathe. Affected customers are asked to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., brushing teeth, drinking, etc.). Customers are able to use a dishwasher if using the heat dry setting. Finally, customers are asked to empty their ice maker bucket and then refill them after the boil water notice has been lifted. Please refer to the boil water notice on the City’s website for details.

Due to the prolonged subfreezing temperatures and power outages during the winter storm, treatment and distribution facilities struggled to maintain the water pressure required by law, and many customers lost water pressure or water service. City crews worked around the clock to address the issues caused by the winter storm, including repairing lift and pump stations, as well as burst water mains.

As the water system works to refill the water towers, it does take time for the system to fully respond, and continued fluctuations in water pressure are to be expected. The most effective way to ensure adequate water pressure returns is for all Georgetown customers to severely limit use.


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