Phase II mandatory water conservation measures will remain in effect in Lampasas until Sept. 10 as a result of efforts to clean city water storage tanks.

The Lampasas City Council voted Tuesday to mandate restrictions on water use, as demand remains high and the city’s main water tank -- a 2 million-gallon tank on Old Georgetown Road -- has been drained for cleaning and disinfecting.

A brown layer of iron bacteria sediment has formed in the bottom of city water tanks as a result of “burnout” cleaning process this spring, City Manager Michael Stoldt said. Although iron and iron bacteria are not toxic, bacteria can cause unpalatable water taste, colors and odors, Stoldt said.

In addition, last Friday the sediment layer caused the level of chlorine disinfectant residuals in the Old Georgetown Road tank to drop below the state minimum

require­ment

of 0.5 parts per

million. Water with inadequate chlorine residuals did not enter the city water system, and customers did not consume that water, said Stoldt, who added that chlorine levels are checked daily.

"Iron bacteria is not a health concern as much as it's an aesthetic concern," Stoldt said. "If there's a health concern it's that it takes away the chlorine that is used to fight other bacteria that can be harmful."

City workers, and personnel from OMI Inc. and Kempner Water Supply Corp., emptied and cleaned the Old Georgetown Road tank, which was disinfected Thursday by International Diving Services. A quote of $4,350, which the City Council on Tuesday awarded to the Tylerbased company, also includes cleaning services for tanks on Spring Street and Nix Road.

"We're going to get all the sediment out of the system," Stoldt said.

Water service from the Spring and Nix tanks will not be interrupt­ed, but because it was exposed to air, the Old Georgetown Road tank has to be shut down temporarily and disinfected by hypochlorination, Stoldt said.

"If there's any iron bacteria still clinging to the walls this will kill it," the city manager said of the disinfection process.

Water from the Old Georgetown Road tank will be resampled before the tank begins serving Lampasas customers again, Stoldt added.

Until the Old Georgetown Road tank can resume activity, the city is at risk of losing all water service if a main line breaks, Stoldt wrote in an action item explanation prepared for City Council members before

Tuesday's meeting. Conse­quently,

city staff consider reinstating the tank "an emergency situation," Stoldt wrote.

Mandatory water conservation measures are expected to remain in effect until Sept. 10, although they could end earlier if water samples from the Old Georgetown Road tank pass state standards before that date, Stoldt said.

City water customers may use irrigation systems or water their yards only between 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. on odd or even calendar days

corre­sponding

with addresses.

A person whose address ends in "2," for example, may water only on even-numbered calendar days. Filling or refilling of swimming pools, hot tubs, wading pools and similar items also is restricted to the calendar day system.

In addition, the use of ornamental fountains and waterfalls -- and the washing of commercial or residen­tial driveways and parking areas -- are prohibited. Also, water from fire hydrants may be used only for fire protection and permitted use.

Water conservation violators can be fined, Stoldt said.