1991-03-22-sr-p5-reardan-water-restored

March 22, 1991 Spokesman-Review Page 5:

Water service restored to Reardan

REARDAN — Water service was restored here about 6 p.m. Thursday, ending a daylong emergency that caused schools to be dismissed.

Mayor Wayne Hill said city officials discovered a broken drive shaft in the city water pump about 9:30 a.m. after noticing that the municipal water tank was nearly empty.

Some homes in this farming community of 482 people, 23 miles west of Spokane, ran out of water Thursday afternoon before the pump was fixed. Houses nearest the tank ran out first.

About 600 students at Reardan elementary and high schools were sent home about 12:30 p.m. after parents were notified, high school Principal David Cain said. He said the purpose was to conserve water as well as to avoid having children in school without water.

The school system is the city’s largest water user, but most students live outside the city, Cain said.