Ohio City Puzzled by Source of Big Leak

The city of Chillicothe, Ohio, has lost more than 5 million gallons of water in the past week, and officials have yet to determine the source of the leak.

The leak was discovered Feb. 6 when reservoirs drastically dropped, and the city has needed to pump an additional 1 million gallons per day to compensate.

"One would think that 5 million gallons of water would show up somewhere," utilities director Richard Johnson told The Associated Press. "Normally when we have a break like that, we have people calling in saying they have dirty water or low pressure. We've had no notification from anybody."

Matt Allen, chief of staff for Mayor Joe Sulzer, said the city located a leak Thursday, but officials are not quite sure if it's the one causing the big water loss. Allen said city crews would repair the leak.

If its source is not found and repaired, Johnson said it's possible that the leak could wash out the ground underneath a street. He said residents should report any change in water color or pressure.

Source: The Associated Press & The Chillicothe Gazette