AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Leaders in Augusta and other communities grappling with recovery Hurricane Helene are urging people to save water – but they deny rumors circulating that they will stop water use after a certain time.

Rumors of water cuts gained momentum on Saturday, apparently fueled by social media.

This led Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson to state at a press conference that the rumor was not true.

The rumor may have been fueled by a mix of an orderly curfew and a demand to conserve water.

But Johnson said at a news conference Saturday that it was absolutely not true that the city of Augusta or neighboring Columbia County would cut off people’s water use.

He said it was true that city officials were asking the public to conserve water.

And it’s true that in some cases, utility workers have to insulate some water lines long enough to repair them, although that’s difficult because of all the uprooted trees.

But the city is working to provide as much water as possible, he said.

Despite this claim, News 12 has received phone calls from viewers in South Augusta who are complaining that their water flow is reduced to a trickle, or even a trickle.

Demands for water conservation are being made by communities across the CSRA as widespread power outages continue. It is electricity that normally pumps water from wells and fills water tanks.

Leaders want to keep water tanks as full as possible to meet demand, so they are asking people not to water their gardens and to conserve water.

Among the requests:

• The towns of Girard, Vidette and Waynesboro are requesting that water be conserved. If you need water, bring clean containers with lids and go to the Burke County Emergency Management Agency stations at Spring Branch Church Road, Hephzibah-Keysville Road, Highway 305 in Gough, Story Mill Road, Highway 56 South between Waynesboro and Midville and at the EMA headquarters. in Waynesboro. Water is available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at these stations.
• The Allendale Water Department has released these tips on how to save water every day, indoors and outdoors, including turning off the water when brushing your teeth or shaving, reducing flushing toilets and using washing machines only when fully loaded.
• The Edgefield County Water and Sewer Department is asking all customers to conserve water in the wake of Helene. All facilities currently operate on generator power, but fuel supplies are currently limited. Please use water only for cooking, bathing and bathroom use.
• The New Ellenton Public Works Commission is asking customers to conserve water until power is restored. This will help the utility conserve water currently in the reservoirs.
• The Montmorenci-Couchton Water and Sewer District also calls for water conservation. Without electricity, the utility cannot tap its wells to pump water into the reservoirs.
• The water system lost pressure in Jackson and officials requested Saturday that when service resumes, water must be boiled before consumption until further notice.

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