ERIE COUNTY, Ohio (WJW) — Residents in Erie County are being asked to reduce non-essential water use after freezing temperatures impacted one of the area’s water treatment plants.

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According to a post on the City of Sandusky‘s Facebook page, crews with the city’s water, sewer and fire departments have been working for more than 12 hours to break through heavy ice that has built up around the Big Island Water Works plant’s intake pipes, affecting water flow.

“Due to the current critical conditions, the city is not taking in new raw water at this time, and all water use is being supplied from water already stored at the plant,” the post stated.

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To help extend the water supply readily available, residents in Sandusky and Erie County are asked to reduce non-essential use while crews work to restore the water flow.

“While crews are hopeful that conditions will improve, it is possible that the plant’s stored water supply could be exhausted before intake flow is restored,” the post said. “If that occurs, the city will immediately communicate next steps and any additional actions residents may need to take.”

According to the post, the water is safe to drink and there have been no reports of water quality issues.

The city plans to share additional updates as “conditions change.”

The City of Huron also issued a temporary water use advisory for residents “Due to the sub-freezing temperatures and ICE build up around the water intake…” a Tuesday post on the city’s Facebook page said.

Residents are asked to reduce non-essential water use to manage “the demand on the system.”

Crews in Huron are actively working to restore normal operations, the post said, but did not give an estimated time when it would be restored.

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According to the Fox 8 weather team, temperatures on Tuesday will be in the teens with sub-zero wind chills.

See the latest forecast here.

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