Town of Bartlett faces water shortage, and broken pump
The town of Bartlett is almost running on empty when it comes to its water supply.
Bartlett resident and hair stylist Phyllis Williams said without water, there’s a lot of work she couldn’t get done.
I can’t do my perms, and can’t do my colors and shampoo and sets,” Williams said.
Luckily she did have water at her salon Wednesday.
“When I got up at my home I didn’t have any water,” she said.
Mayor Arthur White suggests the problem is with the city’s main well water pump. The City of Bartlett does have a backup pump in use to retrieve water, but a boil water notice in effect as an added precaution.
“It’s not pumping full force, as what is required for it to do. We’re not getting the amount of water to the surface that we really need,” White said.
Water levels in water storage tanks decreased quickly, leading to restrictions on non-essential water usage for Bartlett residents.
“Try to hold back on, you know, washing dishes, to conserve the water showers, bathing,” White said.
White said the water shortage affects about 800 families.
“There are also about 1,000 to 1,100 inmates down the far end of town we serve with water also,” White said, referring to the Bartlett State Jail.
The jail has taken to conserving water by limiting inmate showers and serving food that don’t require water.
