City of Rathdrum asking residents to limit water use after sewer main is damaged

RATHDRUM, Idaho — The City of Rathdrum is asking residents to severely limit water use after the city's main sewer line was damaged.

The city says a private contractor accidentally struck and damaged the city's sewer force main in Post Falls while performing directional boring work. The 8-inch line, along with an adjacent 16-inch line, carries all of Rathdrum's wastewater to the treatment plant in Post Falls.

The city says to protect public health and the environment, all sewer lift stations have been shut down, meaning no wastewater is currently flowing from Rathdrum to Post Falls.

The city is asking residents and businesses to severely limit water use, meaning no flushing toilets if possible, no showers, laundry, or dishwashers, until further notice.

As of 7 p.m., the city says the r