The Pawtucket Water Supply Board (PWSB) is asking customers to temporarily limit water use to essentials after heavy weekend rainfall and fallen leaves made reservoir water harder to treat. I spoke with a PWSB representative today by phone and she stated that the tap water remains safe to drink and that the conservation request may be needed for another day.

The representative said filtration is taking longer because of the heavy rain and the amount of leaves that made their way into the reservoir. In its Wednesday update, the Board said leaves entered the system’s intake, increasing the amount of natural sediment in the incoming water and making it cloudier. Using less water gives crews more time to treat it while keeping enough on hand to meet demand.

Customers in Pawtucket, Central Falls and the Valley Falls section of Cumberland can continue using tap water for drinking, cooking and basic hygiene. The Board is asking customers to hold off on lawn watering, irrigation and car washing until it gives the all-clear.

Mayor Don Grebien said Wednesday that plant operations were improving. The Board representative estimated it could take another day before customers get the go-ahead to resume nonessential water use. In the meantime, the Board is asking customers to keep conserving