Carlisle Region Water Pollution Control Facility

A clarifier tank at the Carlisle Region Water Pollution Control Facility in Middlesex Township

(Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.)

Due to a water treatment plant malfunction, Carlisle issued a mandatory water conservation notice today for customers.

Water quantity is "severely limited," said the borough, but no disease-causing organisms have been found in the water that require mandatory water-boiling.

Customers are asked to use water only for drinking, cooking and bathing, and to limit shower use and laundry.

"If people conserve, we should be okay," said Matt Candland, borough manager.

Water from surrounding municipalities is being tapped into the borough water system to bolster supply, Candland said.

The water storage tanks are "stabilized," he said, but they don't want to get into a situation when supply is too low, and there isn't sufficient water available for firefighting if needed.

The borough produces about 2.5 million gallons of water a day, and close to 2 million gallons is available now, Candland said. The borough was able to produce water, but not pump it out, he said.

They don't know why the water plant basement flooded, which they should be able to determine once the water is all pumped out. Candland said they hope to have the pumps repaired in the next day or two.

"DEP is monitoring the situation and assisting Carlisle's efforts to obtain water from neighboring systems, and arrange to have water hauled in," said John Repetz, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection.

"The issue right now is quantity not quality," Repetz said, which is why the borough issued the mandatory restriction notice.

UPDATE: Information from DEP added.