Assistant Director in Charge of Engineering Services Mike Bengston says the decision was made due to the fact that more than 30,000 Indiana University students will be returning to campus next week coupled with increased algae blooms which clog the plant’s filters.
“We have a finite amount we can produce and that’s it and when your running equipment, pumps, and other equipment 24 hours a day 7 days a week right on the cutting edge of their capacity then we worry about break downs,” Bengston says.
The plant is rated to pump 24 million gallons of water per day and is currently pumping more than 25 million.
Industrial fans were brought in to cool the plant’s engines which are running 45 degrees higher than recommended.
“The problem is a little more than we have the ability to cope with so we’re asking for everybody’s help to get us through this,” he says.
Residents violating restrictions the first time will receive a written warning but will be charged $100 dollars for the next violation, $250 dollars for their third and $500 dollars for each consecutive violation.
The ban is scheduled to last until October but as the weeks progress city officials will determine whether to end the ban or lessen restrictions.
