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Update: July 6, 2012, 1:50 p.m.

A repair at the Columbia Water Treatment Plant on Friday is slowing down the amount of water being pumped to homes and businesses.

City officials are urging utility customers to voluntarily delay irrigation and other unnecessary water use until 6:00 a.m. on Saturday.

A piece of equipment malfunctioned in one of the water softening basins at Columbia’s Water Treatment Plant.

Columbia water towers and reservoirs will only be about 50% full instead of the normal 75% volume.

Cutting back on water usage will help make sure there’s enough water for Columbia firefighters.

Columbia Water & Light spokeswoman Connie Kacprowicz said, “We don’t want to see those storage tanks depleted too much.  There are very hot, dry conditions out there.  We urge everyone to be careful about fires, but also, if there happens to be a fire we should have enough water to keep up with it, if we get a little help from our customers.”

Columbia Water & Light officials are expecting to keep up with the city's water consumption on Friday, even though the ability to fill storage facilities has been hampered.

Original Story:

An equipment repair has city leaders asking Columbia residents to curtail their water use.

Officials say a repair at the Water Treatment Plant Friday will slow down the amount of water being pumped to Columbia customers.

That’s why customers are being urged to delay irrigation and other unnecessary water use until 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 7^th.

Equipment in one of the water softening basins at the plant malfunctioned on Friday. While repairs are made and the basin is being refilled, the amount of water being processed will be less than normal.

Even with the three remaining basins, the plant can pump almost 24 million gallons a day. Water usage this week has ranged from 20 to 23 million gallons.

Columbia Water & Light say the ability to fill the storage facilities will be hampered. Water in the towers and reservoirs is necessary in case its needed for fire-fighting purposes.