THE NEXT ICE AGE - NOW!

                      
 

6 Feb 11 - El Paso Water Utilities placed El Paso on mandatory water restrictions on Saturday night.

The water shortage is due to rolling blackouts and freezing temperatures that cause pipe leaks when frozen pipes began to thaw, officials said.

Residents were asked not to shower, wash cars, use dishwashers or anything else that might use large amounts of water.

Exceptions were granted to hospitals and other emergency medical facilities.

Businesses were urged to close.

The water system, according to utility officials, is recovering from several days of sub-freezing temperatures that caused damage to its facilities. Rolling blackouts also impacted the utility's ability to provide water.

Stores, meanwhile, are reporting that they are having a difficult time keeping bottled and jugged water on the shelf.

Kim Jordan, drug-store manager at the Albertsons in Kern Place, said the store still has 24-packs of bottled water available as of this morning, but is sold out of larger gallon and 5-gallon containers. 

Salvador Carlos, an executive assistant at a Walgreens, said his store has been selling water "like crazy," with people making special trips to the store just to buy water.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_17304786
Thanks to Martin Hoer for this link