Harrodsburg water treatment plant resumes normal operations

MERCER COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - UPDATE: The City of Harrodsburg announced on Facebook that the water treatment plant has resumed normal operations.

They say they are not yet at full capacity in their tanks, but hope to be by around midnight Monday evening.

They say normal water use may resume at this time.

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Mercer County officials say the county is expected to run out of water by Monday night.

In a release posted on Facebook, Mercer County Schools Superintendent Jason Booher said the pumps at the water treatment facility had been shut down around 9 p.m. Sunday night, according to emergency management officials.

The county has a 24-hour backup water supply. When that runs out, it will be out for roughly a week.

“Conserve as much as you can. Save as much as you can. Don’t panic. We will get this going as fast as we can,” said Brad Cox with Mercer County Emergency Management Director Brad Cox.

The City of Harrodsburg gave an update on Facebook that they are still able to intermittently pump water up to the treatment plant, and are sending water to town to top off water storage tanks as the team is able.

They say that it is likely that raw water pumping will have to cease to protect the safety of their operators if Herrington Lake’s Dix Dam increases its spill rate or if Kentucky River Lock 8 must be opened.

First responders started handing out bottled water at the Mercer County Fairgrounds Monday morning.

The county will hold a Chromebook pickup for NTI days on Monday, with Tuesday being a traditional “snow” day.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are currently all possible NTI days, with a final decision on Wednesday being made no later than 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

Booher says he will continue to keep families updated.