Boil order expected to last until noon Thursday

By Gary Scott on June 29, 2016 at 6:50am

There’s a light at the end of the tunnel on Jacksonville’s current water boil and conservation orders.

The orders were put in place yesterday morning after a major water main break at the city’s water treatment plant in the early morning hours on Tuesday.

The latest update from the Morgan County Emergency Services Department indicates the boil order will expire at noon Thursday for those who get their water through the City of Jacksonville, as well as the SMG Water Co-op, Alexander Rural Water District, and the Murrayville Woodson Water Commission.

A press release also stresses conservation of water “is necessary until further notice due to” the water emergency and drought-like conditions.

According to Morgan County emergency services officials, progress at the plant was made last night, and water levels were gained.

Mayor Andy Ezard says the water main was repaired at around 11 a-m yesterday.

“Just because we’ve patched an old, old main doesn’t mean let’s go out and water our yard now. There’s a lot, lot more to do, and I still stress the word conservation. You’ve gotta conserve, you’ve gotta help us out. The community and the citizens have done a great job. We’re very happy about the support we’ve had, not just the conservation effort, but the word out about the boil order, and also about the other communities helping our fire department in regards to life safety and water tanks and support that the village of South Jacksonville has given us as far as potable water, were folks can go get that,” says Ezard.

“We’re not out of the woods; we took a big step as far as patching, but now the hard part begins by putting the pressure back into that main to see if that main takes. We hope it does. If it doesn’t, then we’re back to square one.”

Also, a reminder that there is a “no burn” notice in effect for Morgan County.

(Story updated at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday)

Listen to yesterday afternoon’s press conference here: