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Drought Threaten's Alex City's Water Supply

By Associated Press

Montgomery, AL – Officials in Alexander City say the drought that has lowered the water level in nearby Lake Martin to a record low level for this time of year is now threatening the drinking water supply for the city and surrounding areas.

Emergency measures were being taken Friday to prevent water levels from getting so low that the Alexander City Water System can no longer draw drinking water from the massive lake. A yearlong drought has left piers around marinas and lakeside homes on dry ground.

The system's superintendent for water treatment, Eugene Mahan, says it's so dry pumps that draw water from the lake are shutting down.

Divers went into Lake Martin today looking for ways to increase the depth around intake pipes that drain water from the lake to the city's water treatment plant. The system provides drinking water to about 50,000 to 60,000 people in east central Alabama.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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