Casper, Wyoming: A mandatory irrigation ban has been instituted for all customers served by the Central Wyoming Regional Water System. Customers are to refrain from irrigating their lawns with potable water until further notice. This includes customers of the City of Casper, Mile-Hi Improvement District, Salt Creek JPB (Midwest & Edgerton), Wardwell Water & Sewer District (Wardwell & Bar Nunn), Pioneer Water & Sewer District, Poison Spider Improvement District, 33 Mile Road Improvement & Service District, Sandy Lake Estate Improvement District, and Lakeview Improvement & Service District.

The Central Wyoming Regional Water System has two sources of water—groundwater and the North Platte River. An average of 40% of water produced at the plant is drawn from the North Platte River, while groundwater provides an average of 60% of the water. Groundwater is pumped from the North Platte River alluvial aquifer via 30 wells.

“The polymer system used to treat drinking water at the water treatment plant has failed, and the wells cannot provide enough water on their own to meet the increased demand required by lawn watering,” stated David Hill, public utilities manager. The polymer system enables the water treatment plant to produce an additional 23 million gallons per day.

“While our water distribution system has a mechanism to store water, we are very concerned about our ability to replenish the drinking water in the tanks,” explained Hill. “Currently, we anticipate that the polymer system will be repaired by Monday, but that is not a guarantee. Therefore we are asking for no irrigation and general overall water conservation until further notice.” The request does not apply to those who use groundwater wells for their water source

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