Walker water advisory lifted

A boil-water advisory has been lifted for Walker County Water & Sewerage Authority customers, 10 days after being issued, county spokesman Joe Legge said, but water use still is restricted for authority customers and in the city of LaFayette.

Legge said in a news release the water advisory was a precaution after a routine test on June 29 resulted in a positive E. coli sample from a source well, although no bacteria was found in treated water sent to homes and businesses. Georgia Environmental Protection Agency officials believe surface water contaminated with E. coli from animal waste got into the source well.

A mobile water treatment plant was connected to the Walker County Water Treatment Plant to provide additional filtration to water being distributed to customers. A series of water quality tests were then required before the Georgia Environmental Protection Division declared the water safe to drink.

A second mobile water treatment plant will be connected to the system in the days ahead to supply more water to the community, the release stated.

Until then, customers of both the Walker County Water & Sewerage Authority and city of LaFayette are asked to continue following these water conservation guidelines:

› Outdoor watering of lawns, gardens and trees is limited to a maximum of twice a week (even-numbered addresses and sites with no numbered address may water Wednesdays and Saturdays before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m., while those in odd-numbered addresses may water on Thursdays and Sundays before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.).

› Watering of personal food gardens is allowed any day before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.

The following activities are not allowed:

› No washing streets, gutters, sidewalks and driveways

› No ornamental uses, such as fountains and waterfalls

› No use of fire hydrants, except for the purpose of firefighting, public health, safety, or flushing

› No washing vehicles (cars, boats, etc.) at home

› No noncommercial washing or pressure washing

› No charity, or noncommercial fundraiser, car washes.