PGU Water System Leak Update

January 17, 2024 – 4:45 p.m.

Attn:  Prairie Grove Customers

ANRA’s field crews have been on-site since early afternoon.  Our staff is shutting off water meters at locations that have high water usage.  Water levels at the Sherwood Forest Water Treatment Plant continue to drop.  So much that we have significantly reduced water flow to the distribution system in an effort to maintain the integrity of the water treatment plant.  Based on current meter readings from our new automated meter reading system, there are approximately 75 accounts with high water consumption.  This indicates busted plumbing or customers have left faucets running, causing excessive usage.  All of our activities in locating water leaks and closing high-use water meters have largely been unsuccessful in curbing water consumption in the distribution system.  Based on current information, we anticipate leaving the water supply to the entire distribution system significantly restricted. 

Based on current weather forecasts, the extreme cold temperatures have subsided.  We are asking customers to conserve water until ANRA can reestablish adequate distribution system pressures.  Weather forecasters are predicting below freezing temperatures again Friday morning and Saturday morning of this week.  ANRA is asking all customers to please check plumbing for water leaks at their property and to make appropriate repairs.  In addition, prepare for the next round of freezing temperatures into the coming weekend.  While we typically would ask customers to let their faucets drip, we are asking customers to instead, take other measures to protect their pipes, including turning up the thermostat to at least 65 degrees, opening cabinet doors under sinks to allow warmer air to flow around pipes, and to wrap their pipes.

As of this post, PGU is under a Boil Water Notice.  The official notice will be posted soon. As always, we thank you for your patience and understanding, as we know this is an inconvenience.  We will continue to monitor the situation and will continue to post updates.