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Southern Illinois communities running out of water

Everyone is asked to conserve water. There is also a burn ban in effect in the area due to the lack of water to fight fires.

MT. VERNON, Ill. — MT. VERNON, Ill. – Faucets are running dry for thousands of people in Southern Illinois and it's a race against the clock before more communities run out of water.

Mount Vernon Mayor John Lewis says a 36-inch water line broke at the Rend Lake Conservancy District Water Plant. The plant supplies around 60 communities, or up to 180,000 people, with water.

Lewis says two attempts to fix the problem have failed. Meanwhile, certain communities have already run out of water. Lewis says Continental Tire shut down its plant, allowing Mt. Vernon to have water. However, he says the city could run dry by around 2 a.m. Friday.

Everyone is asked to conserve water. There is also a burn ban in effect in the area due to the lack of water to fight fires.

Thursday, volunteers handed out cases of bottled water at Veterans Memorial Park.

"This is really a good deed for the community," resident Jennifer Morgan said "The mayor and his wife have been here all evening from what I understand and really donating their time and this is awesome for everybody."

Volunteers will return to the park Friday at 9 a.m. to hand out more bottles of water.

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