Carlisle water system still not refilled after main break
Carlisle water main break leaves residents under do-not-use order, schools closed Friday
Carlisle residents should not use tap water until at least 8 a.m. Friday, as the city works to refill its water system following a water main break, Mayor Dan Carver said Thursday afternoon.
Carver cautioned that lifting the order Friday morning is not guaranteed.
City crews and Des Moines Water Works employees worked overnight to locate and repair the break.
Officials initially issued a boil-water advisory after the repair, but reversed course when the system and the city’s main water tower did not refill quickly enough to meet demand safely.
“By all of Carlisle coming together, by not using the water and by letting the system refill and by letting our water tower refill, we’re going to give ourselves the best chance of getting back to normal as quickly as possible,” Carver said.
Officials issued another do-not-use order around 10 a.m. as crews investigated problems that emerged while refilling the water tower.
The city now needs residents to conserve water while the system recovers, Carver said.
The restrictions forced local businesses to improvise.
Employees at AvaLayne, a beauty salon, used bottled water to wash customers’ hair but expected to cancel some appointments.
“It’s unfortunate for us because we’re going to have to cancel appointments and lose clients, and it’s really going to hurt business for the day,” said Morgan Jones, who works at AvaLayne. “And not knowing when it’ll be back.”
Drinking water is available for residents at Carlisle’s middle and high schools.
A tank containing nonpotable water — water that is not safe to drink — is also available at North Park.
Carlisle schools will be closed Friday.
If the do-not-use order is lifted Friday morning, residents will still be required to boil tap water before drinking or cooking with it, and Carver said that advisory could remain in effect into next week.