By SUSAN MARSHALL

Staff writer

A power failure at the Hillsboro water treatment plant interrupted the telemetry system between Hillsboro and Peabody early Saturday morning. A low-water alarm at the Peabody water tower was unable to inform anyone in Peabody of the problem.

After numerous phone calls from citizens concerned Saturday afternoon about low water pressure or no water, Peabody public works employees found the water level in the tower at a critically low level.

Hillsboro was notified and in a matter of hours, employees had the water at a sufficient level. Public works employees have been monitoring the system since Saturday.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment was contacted immediately and kept apprised of the situation. The circumstances did not require the city to issue a “boil water” advisory.

“At no time were the citizens of Peabody in danger of contamination,” Peabody City Administrator Mac Manning said.

Marion County dispatch also was contacted about the critical stage in case of a fire.

Manning, Peabody Mayor Larry Larsen, and Peabody Public Works Director Darren Pickens have evaluated the situation and are taking steps to prevent the situation from happening again.