Johnston water treatment plant repaired; water restrictions remain

Johnston County Public Utilities has requested that all water customers in Clayton, Four Oaks, Princeton, and Kenly and customers of Carolina Water Service and Aqua N.C. within Johnston County to continue to suspend all non-essential uses of water.

Examples of non-essential usage include irrigation of lawns and gardens, vehicle washing, miscellaneous industrial uses and other uses that may be postponed for 24 to 48 hours.

Crews installing a new water pipe on Thursday accidentally hit the existing pipe causing it to shift, but not break, county spokesman Pat LaCarter said.

“When it shifts, it opens up our 24-inch main and we can no longer pump water,” he said.

"The big thing we want everybody to do is if it's not essential, then kind of hold off on it," LaCarter said. "Don't be filling up swimming pools or washing cars today. But so far, things like bath water and restrooms those types of things are perfectly fine."

LaCarter said the 63,000 customers the water plant serves shouldn't notice any major disruption in service.