As the City of Mebane continues repairs on a water treatment plant, the local government issued an urgent message to residents on Wednesday morning to stop using water amid a drastic shortage.
The city shared a “CodeRED emergency call” and declared the implementation of its water shortage response plan’s late stage of rationing for customers, which includes “mandatory restrictions effective immediately.” Mebane said because of the damage at the water treatment plant caused by Tropical Depression Chantal’s rain and floodwaters, the city’s supply of drinking water has less than two days remaining at the current usage rate. The local government had already requested residents limit their water use by avoiding long showers and washing dishes or clothes — but between the length of repairs and lack of remaining clean water supply, further restrictions are necessary.
“The Water Shortage Response Plan requires residents and businesses not to use any water other than limited drinking purposes when bottled water is not available, limited restroom usage (not including showers), and required medical usage,” the City of Mebane shared. “We urge everyone to use bottled water or other alternative sources. City personnel and local law enforcement will enforce the Water Shortage Plan.”
Wednesday’s alert said with this level of restrictions, all businesses, offices, industries and non-residential units should stop operating out of caution, with the only exceptions being grocery stores, health care facilities, and drug stores. Mebane also warned the restrictions could remain in place “for multiple days” until the water treatment plant is producing drinking water with approved water quality. Distribution sites for bottled water will be shared soon, the local government said.
The Graham-Mebane Water Treatment Plant is located at the edge of the Quaker Creek Reservoir in Alamance County, which is northwest of downtown Mebane. The city, however, is split between Alamance and Orange counties, with the water restrictions affecting residents in both.
Sunday’s storm dropped a significant amount of rain onto Central North Carolina, swelling rivers and causing flash flooding that caused a wide swath of damage. The preliminary rainfall totals for Mebane exceeded 9 inches, and Graham’s were more than 7 inches according to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. The severity of floodwaters led the city to issue a voluntary evacuation notice for neighborhoods around the Lake Michael Dam late Sunday night over concerns of its integrity, with the infrastructure ultimately holding up. Because of the ongoing damage, receding waters and chance of rain for Wednesday, the City of Mebane, Orange County and Alamance County all remain under states of emergency.
Mebane is not the only community facing water shortages and restrictions due to flooding from Tropical Depression Chantal. The Town of Hillsborough’s water treatment and wastewater treatment plants each saw equipment overtaken by floodwaters, leaving the town on a boil water notice since Monday morning. The local government is in the process of flushing and cleaning its clear wells to restore drinking water service, according to its Tuesday night update. The Orange Water and Sewer Authority in Chapel Hill also reported a sewer main break and several wastewater overflows from the flash flooding.
The City of Mebane did lift its boil water notice for the Brighton Place Apartments and the Mill Creek Subdivision issued after a nearby water main break — but said both communities are also still required to follow the zero-level water usage laid out in the Water Shortage Plan.
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City of Mebane Issues ‘CodeRED’ Amid Water Shortage, Implements Usage Restrictions Chapelboro.com.
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