MLGW lifts water conservation request, but the boil water advisory is still in effect

Memphis Light, Gas & Water lifted its water conservation request for all customers Monday morning, the city-owned utility said in a post to social media.

The advisory was lifted Monday morning after MLGW said water pressures across the city are in the process of returning to normal. The boil advisory is still in effect, however.

"Over the past week, MLGW has located and repaired more than 56 broken water mains, responded to more than 4,000 customers, residential and commercial, that reported broken pipes and shut off nearly 100 fire suppression systems to keep them from bursting or to help limit the damage from already broken pipes," MLGW said in its press release.

More: Here's where you can pick up fresh water in Memphis as MLGW's boil water advisory continues

The conservation order went into effect Thursday, with MLGW asking customers to avoid using non-essential water due to leaks and low pressure in various areas of the water network. A boil water advisory was announced that day in those low-pressure areas.

Days later, the utility would announce a boil water advisory for the entire city as pressure fell below the 20 psi threshold that MLGW CEO Doug McGowen said the utility is required to maintain.

With pressures returning to that level, MLGW said Monday it has begun sampling water for testing. Those samples will have to "incubate 18-24 hours before results are available." Once those results are in, MLGW will send them to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to confirm that it is safe to drink.

If TDEC gives MLGW the "all-clear," the utility will lift the city-wide boil advisory.

MLGW also said water might be "discolored" as pressure is returned across the system, due to sediment in the water, and recommends people to run their water until it is clear.

Lucas Finton is a criminal justice reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com, or (901)208-3922, and followed on X, formerly known as Twitter, @LucasFinton.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: MLGW lifts Memphis water conservation ask, boil advisory still active