Washington Co. town has run out of water, officials unsure of why

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Utah — The Washington County town of Apple Valley is out of water, and city officials are unsure of the cause.

Apple Valley, located 12 miles east of Hurricane along SR-59, has a million-gallon storage tank that has gone dry. As a result, 170 residents are without water.

“They’re not pumping any water,” Apple Valley mayor Frank Lindhardt said. “And it drained our storage tank.”

Lindhardt says the city of St. George has provided Apple Valley with a 14,000-gallon water truck to allow individuals to get water. Additionally, the Red Cross is bringing in drinking water. 

Lindhardt doesn’t think cause of the problem is climate-related. He says it’s possible a small earthquake caused an aquifer crack, or somebody drilled and punctured a hole in the wells. 

“It’s pretty upsetting,” he said. “Until we know what the problem is, it’s difficult to determine how long it’s going to last.”

Lindhardt said he is looking at long-term solutions, including running a pipe from the other side of town. However, he says the town can’t afford that and will apply for a grant from the state.

The problem was first reported to the Big Plains Water District on Wednesday evening around 5:30 p.m. It has been working to resolve the problem ever since.

The Big Plains Water Board is also trucking in water for residents.

“This is non-potable water that may be used for flushing toilets and other non-potable needs,” a statement from the Big Plains Water Board read.

For those without water, Lindhardt says it’s important to turn off water heaters. He says they can be dangerous when running without water.

Read more:

• This Southern Utah town has run out of water in the middle of June
• Boil order continues for Pleasant Grove

 

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