Ephrata suffers water shortage

System back online by end of weekend

EPHRATA — The city of Ephrata suffered a water shortage last Friday following an electrical storm, but the problem was solved before the weekend was over.

At 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 17, an electrical storm cut the power to the city's water-control system, according to a news release from Ephrata City Administrator Wes Crago.

The system interruption caused a sensor malfunction, which indicated that two of the city's reservoirs were full, Crago said. Consequently, several

supply wells shut down, Crago said.

By 10:45 a.m. Sept. 18, water reservoirs were expended, and shortages began in the northeast and southeast sections of Ephrata, Crago said. Upon notification, the water system was run manually and pressure restored in most sections by 12:30 a.m. Sept. 19, he said.

This is the first such water shortage in the city's history, Crago said.

No contamination filtered into the system, he said, and the fire department was not left without enough water should an emergency occur,

Crago said.

He warned that the water system may have some sediment or air inside it, which can be purged by letting the water run.

Contact the Ephrata City Hall at 754-4601 for further details.

— From staff reports