The problem stated with a power outage Monday afternoon caused problems at Milwaukee's Water Works.

The outage knocked out the pumps from the Linnwood water treatment plant on Milwaukee's east side.

People in Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Menomonee Falls, Butler, Shorewood, Mequon and Thiensville were asked to conserve water usage through the early evening.

Power was restored to the east side about 4:30 and the Linnwood Water Treatment Plant and its pumping station are back on line providing water.

Milwaukee Water Works Superintendent Carrie Lewis said throughout the outage, the water was and remains safe to drink. The treatment plant just lacked electricity for its pumps.

The We Energies power outage affected only one of the city's two water treatment plants. Lewis said the Howard Avenue plant was able to provide backup water supply.

The city had asked residents and businesses north of Oklahoma Avenue to restrict water use until power and water service could be restored.

Lewis says when the pumps shut off so quickly, it caused water main breaks all over the city. Crews were dealing with at least 10 breaks all at once.

The Water Works has a program underway to install emergency electrical backup equipment to power the drinking water system in case of future power outages Lewis said.