Sioux Falls says residents no longer need to conserve water as flooding strains city wastewater system

Update as of noon Sunday: The city is no longer asking residents to conserv water usage.

"Thank you for your willingness to do your part and help our wastewater collection and treatment systems," the city posted on its Facebook page. "The City's wastewater collection and treatment systems remain strained, but they are slowly catching up and are back to a point where we believe it is manageable."

Earlier: The City of Sioux Falls is asking residents to conserve water until further notice because flooding and heavy rains are straining the city's wastewater treatment system, which is currently running at or near its maximum capacity.

In a Friday night post on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, city officials asked residents to take steps, including avoiding using dishwashers and washing machines, and reducing their time spent in the shower or waiting to take one until later Saturday.

Officials also asked more broadly that residents "conserve water use when possible."

The city has been slammed by heavy rains in recent days, with 3-5 inches falling across Sioux Falls even before another series of storms hit the city Friday, adding to flooding that has closed state highways in the area, including parts of I-29. The area has also seen significant rises in the Big Sioux River.

Sioux Falls was under a flash flood warning until 11:30 p.m. Friday, and is under a flood watch until 7 a.m. Saturday morning and a flood warning until 9:45 a.m. Saturday morning.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls says residents no longer need to conserve water as flooding strains city wastewater system