The public water system here should be operating normally by noon today, according to the Steve Kenney, manager of the Southwest Harbor Water and Sewer District. Kenney said the main pump that moves water from Long Pond to the treatment plant became clogged with debris and stopped operating on Friday morning.

As a result, no water was being pumped to replace that being used in the town. Kenney said his attempts to rent a portable pump proved fruitless. Fortunately, the Southwest Harbor Fire Department came to the district's aid.

Firefighters set up a fire truck at Long Pond at 1 p.m. Sunday and began pumping water from the pond uphill a few hundred yards to a hydrant that flows directly into the water treatment plant. Shifts of firefighters kept up the effort through the night and expected to remain until the pump is back online.

"They've been awesome," Kenney said.

Kenney said town and district employees and members of the public came forward to lend a hand. Scott Alley of the town's highway department came down in the night to refuel the fire truck.

"It was good teamwork; a good community effort," he said.

Kenney said he was surprised at the amount of debris that had clogged the pump.

"It was chockablock full of leaves and sticks," he said. "Something must have happened to the screen."

Under a bill expected to be heard at Monday night’s meeting, the city is buying a new rescue unit that will be housed at Fire Station #4.

Fire Chief David Downey says the move should help public safety especially on the freeways.