The city of Mebane on Thursday said it has resumed limited water treatment at its water treatment plant, but that the facility is still days away from being fully operational after it was damaged by flooding from Tropical Depression Chantal.
The city announced it had made enough progress to resume water production.
“This vital step allows the City of Mebane to begin a multi-day process of gradually returning to normal water operations,” the city said in a statement.
The city said residents will notice a “discoloration in their water,” but the water remains safe to use under the city’s Stage 5 mandatory restrictions, which the city says requires all industries, businesses, offices and non-residential areas to operate with a 60% limited workforce and no outdoor water usage.
Additionally, residents may only use about 96 gallons of water daily, or 60% of normal water usage, of city water for drinking purposes when bottled water is unavailable, limited restroom usage, required medical usage and showers.
Residents are also not allowed to use water outside, and the city said Mebane police are actively enforcing the restrictions.
Mebane was one of the hardest his areas from Chantal on Sunday and into Monday morning, which included Moore County, Chatham County, Durham and Orange County experiencing generational flooding.
While the city said it’s made progress on restoring water to the city, significant repairs, such as repairs to the pump motor and replacements, were still needed and the plant’s primary electrical breaker is still out.
According to the town, the treatment plan was submerged under six feet of water after Sunday’s flooding from Chantal.
The city said full restoration could take a few more days, adding that residents in Graham will receive water from Burlington while repairs in Mebane are ongoing.
Business owners, like Steven Krans, said the lack of water access has put a strain on business owners in Mebane.
“The reality is, we’ve been closed for the better part of three-to-four days, we don’t have a timeframe on when this could come back,” Krans said. “Even if we were given the go back ahead we would all have to replenish, restock, regrip and still take time to get ready to go. So, we’re not done yet.”
Some residents, including WRAL photojournalist Vinnie Boccanfuso, said he and his wife are still on bottled water.
“We have used it for everything, from brushing teeth to drinking,” Boccanfuso said. “You didn’t expect water to be gone. You didn’t expect to be able to change your life over a water plant that you really have no control over.”
The city gave a list of locations where residents can pick up bottled water from:
Mebane Arts & Community Center- 633 Corregidor StreetSummit Church- 1485 Mebane Oaks RoadMebane Fire Department, Station #2- 405 N. First StreetClay Street Tavern and Provisions- 130 W. Clay StreetCrafted Taco- 119 W. Clay StreetBright Penny- 107 N. Seventh StreetGrit and Grace- 108A W. Clay StreetKnuckleheads- 401 E. Center StreetBreakthrough Community Church- 703 S. Third StreetLowes Home Improvement- 200 Lowes Blvd.
“The City of Mebane is deeply grateful for the outpouring of support during this challenging
time. From water donations to volunteer coordination, we’ve seen neighbors helping neighbors
and communities unite in powerful ways. Your generosity, compassion, and willingness to step
up remind us why Mebane is such a special place to call home,” stated Public Information
Officer Kelly Hunter.
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