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Referring to attached clippings concerning water shortage August 15 1% 1951 • ^About 8120 F.M* .August 14th. tm had a power failure - caused by a blown fuse on the Power Company Side of our sub** - station as a result of which our 3-phase circuit was single phased* ffiC fuse was replaced and power service resumed about f tOO P.M. All power equipment was reset and normal operation resumed except pmp motors on Wells Nos* 5 and 10. The condi­tion at Well Ho. 5 was easily corrected and operation restored but it was found the short circuit had burnt out motor on Well Ho. Id » 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.K.. August 15th. and losing about 5" per hour before we were advised of the situation. When after first reducing pressures the withdrawal continue to exoeed our production. X 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 publics responded wholeheartedly as our consumption was reduced from 16.500.000 gallons on August 14th to 14.495.000 for August 15th., However, by at30 R.M. the Charleston reservoir was empty and we had only gravity flow. As & result the area dong Charleston west of the Hospital was practically without water. Sven with the reduced product ion, X 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 14th, 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 don® safely and without detriment to our service but it appears impossible to obtain any realistic understanding of the situation, Xt further appears our pumping equipment should be so protected that, as'In. Mils Instance, a mown out fuse cannot single phase our operating circuits and ’ burn' out our puling equipment motors. X have discussed this situation with division Engineer Martin, who will be here Monday to Investigate the matter and X will advise you results. Las yegas « August 16, if 51 Mr* Wm* Reinhardt! m~*r. j-;