Temple residents to get more water after shortage Posted On: Friday, Jul. 3 2009 05:30 AM From staff reports

Temple and Morgan's Point residents facing a weeklong water shortage soon will get relief.

Temple crews completed connections to a mobile water pump Thursday afternoon to provide more water for residents in the 835 Zone.

Workers are in the process of disinfecting, flushing and testing the mobile pump and water line.

After these procedures are finished, a water sample will be collected and sent to a Waco laboratory to verify the water is safe for residential use.

The city hopes results will be available sometime Saturday, a news release said. Once the water is deemed safe, it will be moved into the Morgan's Point tank for consumption. This will reduce the demand on the Pepper Creek Water Tank and provide new, additional water to the 835 Zone.

Because of cooperation from the residents in the 835 Zone, the water tanks are full and the pumps are fully operational.

Beginning at 8 a.m., and until further notice, City Manager David Blackburn is implementing water conservation restrictions under stage 2-W "for all water customers in the West Temple service area that extends west of State Highway 317 to Lake Belton, south to the Leon River, and north to SH 36."

Under this stage, residents must limit irrigation of landscaped areas with hose-end sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems to two days per week, only between the hours of 8 a.m. and noon or 8 p.m. and midnight on designated watering days as assigned by area. Residents may wash motor vehicles on the same designated watering days and times.The stage 2-W water conservation schedule is as follows:

Mondays and Thursdays: Windmill Farms area, Woodland Trail area and Northcliffe area.

Tuesdays and Fridays: Eagle Oaks area, Lakewood area, Woodland Point Road area, Arrowhead Point area and Bonnie Lane/Terry Road area.

Wednesdays and Saturdays: Morgan's Point.

The city will closely monitor water levels over the weekend and implement changes in the water conservation plan if necessary to ensure the protection of life and property, the news release said.

Also, with the current lack of measurable precipitation, wildfires due to fireworks are of great concern.

Residents are reminded it is illegal to possess or discharge fireworks within the Temple city limits.

People violating the ordinance will have fireworks confiscated and receive a ticket.

Residents may call (254) 298-5611 with any questions or concerns.

More information is available at www.ci.temple.tx.us/waterconservation.