EAST CAPE ISSUES ORDER TO CONSERVE WATER

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- Water department officials in East Cape Girardeau issued an order Wednesday for users to conserve water until further notice.

They said the order means residents should not wash cars, water gardens or fill swimming pools.

"We just can't have people using so much water," said Dale Brown, water plant operator. "Whatever it takes, people have to use less water; it's for the good of everybody."

Although East Cape Girardeau recently built a new water tower, the city still does not have the pump capacity to fill the tower.

Even if everyone complies with the order, it could take seven to 10 days to build the water supply again, Brown said.