Officials in Totowa declared a water emergency Sunday after storms knocked out pumps that serve the community, threatening to leave faucets dry.

Firefighters are pumping water from hydrants to about 400 homes. Officials believe lightning or a power surge may have fried two area water pumps Saturday. Although neighbors say they have not noticed much difference, they are urged to conserve water because firefighters say they cannot keep up with the demand from washing machines and excessive use.

The water pressure is low in some areas, but authorities maintain the water is safe to drink while they work to fix the problem.