City of Marshall issues water emergency, shortage

MARSHALL, TX. (KTAL/KMSS) — The City of Marshall, Texas, has issued a water shortage and is urging residents to conserve water.

According to a news release, the City of Marshall, Texas, said the water emergency is due to accidental damage to one of its main water transmission lines.

On Tuesday, June 25, a contractor accidentally damaged one of the City’s two raw water transmission lines while installing fiber optic cables on Hwy 134. The damaged line is a reinforced concrete cylinder pipe, installed initially in 1949, that serves as one of two transmission lines delivering raw water from the pump to the Caddo Jr. Reservoir.

“This has reduced our ability to fill the Caddo Jr. Reservoir, which is currently at half capacity,” details the city, “Your water is SAFE to drink – this is about capacity, not quality.”

They are installing a temporary clamp to restore the pumping capacity, inspecting the entire transmission line, and are working “around the clock to fix this ASAP.” The Stage 1 water shortage will remain in effect until conditions improve and will be rescinded when triggering events have ceased for 15 consecutive days.

The City of Marshall is urging residents to reduce their water usage by 10% by:

• Take shorter showers,
• Run dishwashers/washing machines only when full,
• Hold off on non-essential outdoor watering and,
• Fix any leaks.

The City of Marshall states that the projected repair is expected to take six to eight days to complete, ensuring there are no leaks in the system.

For more information, contact the City of Marshall Public Works Department at 903-935-4487.