Louisiana Water Co. has requested water customers in Iberia Parish — including the city of New Iberia and the village of Loreauville — reduce the rate of flow of dripping what and/or only drip pipes on an intermittent basis. 

The last 24 hours have seen a tremendous demand on the water system and overall water use in Iberia Parish, which has diminished the capacity of the water treatment plant, water storage facilities and pumping systems to keep up and maintain normal operating pressures, a spokesman said. Since below freezing temperatures are expected over the next 20 hours, Lawco asks customers to make every effort to conserve or restrict water use. 

Using water on an “as needed” basis for the next 24 hours will help the water company replenish water storage facilities and return the water system to normal operating pressures, according to a prepared statement. 

When temperatures rise above freezing, Lawco is asking customers with broken or damaged water lines to shut off their water valve as soon as possible and repair the leaking pipes to avoid any unnecessary waste of water and even greater demands on the water system, , which could adversely affect the community’s water supply system. 

For more information, call the Lawco customer service office at 365-0002.