CLEMSON — Water usage restrictions are suggested along with a boil water advisory for parts of northern Anderson and western Pickens counties.

Failure of a major line coming off of the Centerville pumping station has led to limited water supplies to thousands of customers along the U.S 76 corridor from Sandy Springs to Pendleton to Clemson and potentially parts of Central, according to Scott Willett, executive director of the Anderson Regional Joint Water System.

Classes were cancelled a Clemson University today.

At this time the situation does not affect the Powdersville Piedmont areas, he said.

Repairs are underway now and Willett hopes they will be completed later this afternoon.

Water service is being routed from other parts of the system, elevated storage tanks still have water, he said. “We are at a bout a 50 percent capacity right now,” he said around 2 p.m. today. “It just means that there is less water and we are asking that customer avoid unnecessary usage.”

It also means that safe usage will require boiling water for at least the next 24 hours. Once the system is restored water quality tests must be performed and those take 24 hours.

The leak of 5 million gallons of water results from failure of a main line, he said. “Vibrations happen at a pump station and over time – this line has been in place for 45 years – things wear out,” he said.