The Dawes County Rural Water District #1…which serves the Whitney area…has shut down, leaving Whitney and some 46 rural families without water with no indication of when service will be restored.

Spokesman Dixie Eaton says it appears there’s a major leak somewhere in the line, with the problem apparently occurring late last night and first detected this morning about 3:00.

Eaton is encouraging landowners and district patrons to check their lines for the leak and to conserve what little water remains in the line.

Anyone finding a leak in the line is asked to call Eaton at 308-667-1139 or Bob Galey at 308-667-2087 as soon as possible, so the leak can be fixed and service restored.