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Las Vegas - August 16, 1951 Referring to attached clippings concerning water shortage August 15 & 16, 1951* About 8:20 P.M*,August 15th, we had a power failure hgs caused by a blown fuse on the Power Company side of our sub­station as a result of which our 3-phase circuit was single phased* The fuse was replaced and power service resumed about 9*00 P.M, All power equipment was reset and normal operation resumed except- pump motors on Wells Nos. 5 and 10. The condi­tion at Well No* 5 was easily corrected and operation.restored but it was found the short circuit had burnt out motor on Well No. 10 - necessitating removal, shipment to Los Angeles for repairs and reinstalling which was completed about 10:00 this , morning* Following resumption of service the watchman on duty failed to take into consideration our reduced production but continued to maintain normal pressures throughout the night and as a result the reservoirs were approximately half empty by 10:30 A.M., August 15th, and losing about 5" per hour before we were advised of the situation. When after first reducing pressures the withdrawal continued to exceed our production, I requested the local radio stations to broadcast an appeal to the public to discontinue all sprinkling during the balance of the day and in general the public responded wholeheartedly as our consumption was reduced from 16,500,000 gallons on August 15th to 15,595*000 for August 15th* However, by 5:30 P.M. the . Charleston reservoir was empty and we had only gravity flow. As a result'the area along Charleston west of the Hospital was practically without water* Even with the reduced production, I feel we could have furnished reasonably adequate service had the watchman on duty used any judgment by reducing the pressure at the Charleston Reservoir after midnight, August l5th, from usual operating pressure of 30-33 lbs. to 8-10 lbs. which would have resulted in a substantial quantity of water being stored for August 15th. The watchmen have repeatedly been requested to reduce pressures after the heavy withdrawal periods, particularly after midnight when it can be done safely and without detriment to our service but it appears impossible to obtain any realistic understanding of the situation. protected that, as in this instance, a blown out fuse cannot single phase our operating circuits and burn out our pumping equipment motors. Martin, who will be here Monday to Investigate the matter and I will advise you results. It further appears our pumping equipment should be so I have discussed this situation with Division Engineer