Broken sewer main prompts water conservation in Wenatchee

WENATCHEE — City officials in Wenatchee issued an emergency water conservation notice Tuesday for residents and businesses following a sewer main break in multiple residential areas.

The conservation order, effective immediately, affects all sewer customers in the Olds Station, Chatham Hill, and Sunnyslope neighborhoods. City maintenance crews are actively working to repair the broken sewer main, though no timeline for completion has been provided.

The city has instructed all customers in the affected areas to limit water discharge into the sewer system until further notice. Residents and businesses are being asked to restrict sewer usage to essential needs only.

Guidelines issued by the city include taking shorter showers, limiting toilet flushing to solid waste only, and postponing laundry unless absolutely necessary. Additional recommendations include using paper plates and cups to reduce dishwashing needs, and avoiding running water for food defrosting.

Commercial establishments in the affected areas are also under the conservation order. 

If you have any questions, please call the City of Wenatchee at (509) 888-3235 or (509) 888-3600.

City officials have not disclosed the cause of the sewer main break or provided an estimate of how many customers are affected by the conservation order.