Hot Springs residents are currently in mandatory water conservation status and asked to immediately conserve water by all means possible following a power outage at the Ouachita Water Treatment Plant during last night's stormy weather. The plant's generator was struck by lightning and is also inoperable. Entergy crews have been onsite but have yet been unable to restore power.
Residents and businesses are asked to turn off automatic sprinkler systems, delay laundry, car and dish washing, take shorter showers and avoid water usage during this critical period when the city is unable to produce water. It is also imperative that water not be used to wash away storm debris from driveways, patios, decks and walkways. The public will be notified as soon as mandatory conservation status is lifted.