City removes water alert

Freedom New Mexico

The city of Portales rescinded its mandatory water alert Monday.

Watering lawns was banned under the alert starting Thursday because of broken pumps in city wells.

City Manager Tom Howell said one pump was fixed Friday, one Monday and one would be repaired Tuesday. After the city asked residents to stop watering lawns, he said, the water level in the storage tanks rose, which was the goal.

Howell said the water system is now doing fine. To continue to conserve water, city officials are asking that people follow a voluntary watering schedule in place before the alert:

• Odd-number addresses: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

• Even-number addresses: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

• No watering on Mondays

• No watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.