Wrangell’s utility users were advised last week to start being more conservative with their water usage, with the city going into the first phase of its emergency response plan.

The plant which has treated the city’s municipal water supply for most of the past two decades has in recent years been having trouble keeping up with peak demand, which locally is during the summer. Ongoing problems with the aging facility came to a head last year, with a shortage prompting a declaration of disaster by the mayor in July and emergency conservation measures disrupting service into August.

The cri...