About 7,000 water service customers in Armstrong County are high and dry today because supply tanks are empty.

Supervisors in Manor Township today ordered their residents and those in surrounding towns to conserve water, said Jack Tirpak, manager of the Manor Township Joint Municipal Authority.

The authority, based in Manor, serves about 7,000 people on the 2,700 service lines throughout the township. The service area includes Rayburn, Manorville, and Ford Cliff boroughs, and parts of Valley and Bethel townships.

The water conservation order was issued today by township supervisors. But, Mr. Tirpak said, "They don't have the water to conserve."

The system's 1 million-gallon storage tank is bone dry, Mr. Tirpak said.

The problem began Tuesday when a contractor, hired to install pumps to relieve high water pressure, accidentally ruptured a main service line.

The broken line was repaired today.

Mr. Tirpak said the storage tank will be replenished fully by Sunday.

Water buffaloes have been set up throughout the service area to provide potable water for residents.