City Declares New Water Conservation Order

MARION, Ky. — For the second time in just over two years, the City of Marion is under a State of Emergency for water conservation after Mayor D’Anna Browning issued Executive Order No. 25-06 today, reinstating Stage 3 restrictions, the city’s most extreme level of conservation.

The order comes amid ongoing low-water conditions at Lake George, one of Marion’s primary raw water sources. City officials say already low water reserves are being worsened by excessive evaporation and limited rainfall. The National Weather Service predicts continued dry weather for our region, the mayor said, and August, September and October are typically the driest months of the year for Marion.

Under Stage 3, residents are prohibited from washing vehicles, sidewalks, or porches, and from using municipal water to irrigate non-food-producing plants. The goal, according to the city’s Water Conservation Plan, is to ensure essential water needs can be met while minimizing unnecessary usage.

The conservation plan, established by Ordinance 22-10 originaly in 2022 and amended in March 2023, also calls for increased public awareness and education about best water use practices, along with encouraging all residents to conserve wherever possible.

“We must be proactive in protecting our water supply,” Browning said. “The city will remain vigilant in monitoring the situation, and further orders will be issued should conditions change.”

This is the first time Marion has returned to Stage 3 restrictions since May 2023, when the city enacted the order after Lake George was purposely breached to prevent a levee failure. Plentiful rains later eased the crisis, allowing the city to drop to Stage 1 restrictions.

With current forecasts offering little hope for significant rainfall, city leaders are urging the public to take the restrictions seriously to avoid more severe shortages.

The emergency order remains in effect until further notice.

DISCOLORED SHORELINE: Sign of Troubles 

Discolored rocks at the lake’s edge near the city’s raw water intake show reddish-brown staining. 

City officials say this is a sign of elevated manganese levels in the water, which can occur naturally when minerals in surrounding soil and rock dissolve into the lake.

The city’s assessment could be correct because manganese, like iron, is a naturally occurring element found in many soils and rocks. In low-oxygen areas of a lake, especially near the bottom manganese can dissolve into the water. 

When that water is exposed to oxygen near shorelines or riprap, the manganese oxidizes and precipitates out, coating rocks with dark brown, reddish or even black stains. 

While iron typically leaves a brighter orange or red color, manganese can mix with iron deposits, altering the hue. This natural process can lead to higher manganese concentrations in the raw water drawn for treatment.