Update: Just after 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 17, East Cullman Water System Superintendent Keith Henry informed The Times the issue had been identified as a broken eight-inch main water line. Henry asked that customers continue to conserve as much water as was feasible until the system was able to build its water reserves back up to normal levels.

After several days of sub-freezing temperatures East Cullman Water System is asking its customers to conserve water as reserve tanks are beginning to run low.

As of Wednesday morning, Jan. 17, superintendent Keith Henry said the system’s tanks — which typically hold roughly 2 million gallons — have dwindled to just more than 300,000 gallons.

“We’re not out yet, but if we don’t change the direction we’re going and start gaining some ground we could be out,” Henry said.

Henry said technicians at the plant have added an additional pump and are accepting all of the intake water possible from the City of Cullman Water Treatment Plant. However, he said the most likely cause of the current shortage is customers leaving faucets running to avoid broken pipes over the past several days.

“Evidently with people dripping their faucets, they’ve just been using more water than we can pump out,” he said.

Henry said there is also the possibility of broken waterlines which has yet to be detected and asked customers to be on the lookout and to alert East Cullman Water officials if any unexplained running water is detected.

Henry was hopeful that the conservation notice will be temporary and supplies will begin to build back up as temperatures begin to rise throughout the day Wednesday and customers turn off faucets.

East Cullman Water System provides drinking water for the majority of residents in the Eastern half of Cullman County with the exception of the town of Holly Pond.