Water authority lifts mandatory conservation for customers served by Beaver Run Reservoir

The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County lifted its mandatory water conservation order Monday for more than 56,000 customers served by the Beaver Run Reservoir in Bell and Washington townships.

Customers who live north of Route 30 in Westmoreland, Allegheny and Indiana counties have been under a mandatory order since mid-December to cut water usage by 5% to 10% amid ongoing drought-like conditions. The authority said a lack of rain had depleted water levels at the reservoir, which serves nearly half of the agency’s customers.

January’s wet weather, along with ongoing conservation efforts and service changes, have helped to restore water levels at the reservoir, officials said.

Since Jan. 9, the reservoir level has risen 6 feet as authority officials measured 4.77 inches of new precipitation at the reservoir’s George R. Sweeney Water Treatment Plant. That snow and rain added more than 1.6 billion gallons of water into the reservoir this month.

When full, the reservoir holds up to 11.4 billion gallons of water. Precipitation deficits throughout 2023 led water levels at the reservoir to drop over the past 12 months, and, in November, it held just 5.5 billion gallons. That prompted implementation of a voluntary conservation order that was upgraded a month later to mandatory cuts in water usage.

“While the recent precipitation is a positive sign, we still have a way to go. It’s evident that the customers are doing what they can, and that is greatly appreciated. … Every drop counts. Hopefully, Mother Nature continues to do her part, as well,” authority manager Michael Kukura said.

The authority is continuing its call for voluntary conservation as the reservoir remains 6.7 feet below where it was at the end of last January, officials said.

The authority has nearly 123,000 water customers in five counties. The southern half of the authority’s customers are serviced by the Indian Creek Treatment Plant along the Youghiogheny River near Connellsville. No conservation orders have been issued for those customers.