North Monroe County Water System customers are urged to significantly curb their water usage tonight and over the next several days as Monroe County will again have to tie onto existing City of Forsyth water lines to pump water into the county’s north system on an emergency basis due to another major water shortage affecting the system.
Just hours after Monroe County reconnected its water system to Butts County’s system, Monroe County’s water management firm, H2O Innovations, was notified by Butts County Water & Sewer Authority officials that the system was again losing water at a rapid rate, and that Monroe County would be cut off from the system this evening (Thursday, Dec. 28). Monroe County contracts with Butts County to provide water for its north water system.
Therefore, Commissioners notified City of Forsyth officials this evening that for the second time this week, they will need to connect two Monroe County Emergency Services (MCES) fire engine hoses to transfer water from the City of Forsyth system to the county’s north water system. Monroe County water officials will again close the valve bringing in water from Butts County and instead pump water from the City of Forsyth into the north system at a rate of 750 gallons per minute beginning early tomorrow morning. MCES will set up one fire truck and hose at a city system hydrant in River Forest and then set up a second truck and hose less than a half mile away at the intersection of Boxankle and Mayfield roads, where it will be connected to a north system hydrant. Two trucks with a total of 2,400 feet of six-inch wide fire hose are needed to provide adequate pumping pressure.
Monroe County remains under a Boil Water Advisory for all North Monroe County water system customers, which includes all areas along Johnstonville Road and to the north of Johnstonville Road (excluding the Riata, River Forest, and River Walk subdivisions). In order to protect the public from a potential health hazard, customers are advised to use only boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking, cooking, or preparing food. The Boil Water Advisory does not apply to customers who already receive water from the City of Forsyth or customers on Monroe County’s South Water System.
In addition, Monroe County water officials are in the process of repairing a broken water main near the intersection of Drewery Company Drive and Mace Manor in High Falls. This main break is not believed to be related to the ongoing water shortage woes.
