Water line break at Rend Lake shuts off water to 60 southern Illinois communities

[TexasTowelie]

MARION -- A major water line break at the Rend Lake Intercity Water Plant Wednesday has led to a water shortage crisis in several of the 60 communities the conservancy district serves.

Du Quoin Mayor Guy Alongi said the city's water supply was down from 1.4 million gallons to less than 400,000 gallons as of Thursday afternoon.

"We have the whole town under a boil order as this is a serious situation," the mayor said. "We have a couple of game plans we're putting together in case this shutdown would continue beyond a day or so."

One option is a water tank in Christopher, Alongi said, which could provide some temporary relief.

Read more: http://www.dailyrepublicannews.com/news/20180517/water-line-break-at-rend-lake-shuts-off-water-to-60-southern-illinois-communities

[TexasTowelie]

1. Follow-up article:

Governor declares 9 Southern Illinois counties disaster areas as water supplies slowly replenish

MARION — In a Friday news conference, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner declared nine Southern Illinois counties disaster areas following Rend Lake Water Conservancy District’s breach at Inter-City Water Plant.

Rauner met with the mayors of cities and villages affected by the water crisis before touring the water plant where repairs were completed Friday morning allowing water to begin flowing from Rend Lake to water customers.

“We have declared nine counties here in this region as a disaster area to make sure that all appropriate resources are made available from the state,” Rauner said. “We have had Illinois Emergency Management Agency personnel here right from the immediate break of the pipe 36, almost 48, hours ago.”

Franklin, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Perry, Saline, Washington, White and Williamson counties have all been declared disaster areas.

Read more: http://thesouthern.com/news/local/governor-declares-southern-illinois-counties-disaster-areas-as-water-supplies/article_1ca18627-59de-5abd-9326-2d58c02b30c4.html#tracking-source=home-top-story