SEQUIM — Solmar Water System customers are being asked to conserve water after the pump on the water company’s main well failed.

Kate O’Claire, the water system’s owner, said the pumped failed Thursday and that a new pump is expected to be installed Wednesday.

Until then the water system — which serves more than 300 connections in the Sequim-area neighborhood — will rely on its emergency backup well, which has half the capacity of the main well.

“We want to make sure everyone is prudent about minimizing water usage to prevent a complete failure,” she said.

“We’re asking people to not water their lawns and minimize water usage.”

O’Claire said that by minimizing water use it helps prevent the emergency pump from also failing.

She said that if the pump had failed in the winter it wouldn’t have been an emergency.

But because it is summer, when people tend to use the most water, the backup well and aquifer have been stressed.

This can cause air bubbles or discoloration in the water, something she said customers shouldn’t be concerned about.

“There has been more air in the lines because the aquifer is being stressed,” she said.

She said the water is safe and that the air bubbles will go away if the water sits for some time.

“We appreciate all the customers’ willingness to cooperate in the restriction and their patience in this time of emergency,” she said.

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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsula dailynews.com.