UPDATE:

4:15 pm:

A check with officials in Emporia confirmed that water will not be restored until as late at 11:00 pm tonight or early tomorrow morning.

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The major water main break in Emporia is now fixed.

The major water main break left the town of about 25,000 residents Lyon County without water for much of the day today.

JC Post contacted State Senator Jeff Longbine, who is a resident of Emporia, for an update on the situation.

“I think the main is now fixed, as far as the actual break; and they hope to start restoring water late -afternoon, between five and six.”

Longbine confirmed that due to the loss of pressure and the risk of contamination a boil water advisory is in effect through Saturday evening.

“All of our food processing manufacturers are closed – such as Tyson, Hostess, Simmons Pet Food, Cargill, [and] Hill’s Pet Nutrition.” All of the companies use water in their manufacturing process.

Several other businesses in Emporia were closed today, and others were “scrambling to bring in emergency truck loads of bottled water”, according to Longbine.

The American Red Cross confirmed that no calls were made to dispatch for their assistance in Lyon County today.

Allen Dinkel, Junction City Manager, cautions residents to be practical with the use of water in the extreme heat. There have been smaller water line breaks in Junction city in the past, but not one involving a 20-inch water line like the one in Emporia.