RUSSELLVILLE Russellville car wash owners are learning what its like to be thoroughly cleaned out. Managers of the facilities have reported nearly $300 a day in losses since Mayor Shirlee Yassney closed the facilities last week because a severe drought lingers across most of southcentral Kentucky. The Car Wash at U.S. 68-Ky. 80 and Ky. 100 was the only car wash spared from the ban. Its water comes from a well rather than from the citys water system. Others arent so lucky. Its hurting business, said Sherry Doty, manager of Maple Grove BP. Weve lost about $250 a day and between $400 and $500 on the weekends. Its also hurting our inside and gas sales because we offer discounted car washes with our gas. The station owner plans to bring in water from Bowling Green and reopen the car wash later this week, Doty said. The closings are just another item on a list of water-related incidents the city has dealt with during the past 18 months. Because of the drought, Yassney banned at-home car washings, among other things, in August. After months of dealing with parasites in the citys water, the state lifted a second boil-water advisory in November after a test showed the water was virtually free of Cryptosporidium, potentially dangerous parasites for people with immune system problems or transplant patients. The city was under a five-month advisory last year after nematodes and microscopic worms were found in the water. That find led to a $100,000 upgrade of the old water treatment plant. City Utilities Director Chuck McCollum said the city has been receiving 1 million gallons of water a day from Spa Lake and 250,000 to 300,000 gallons from the South Logan Water District since Nov. 30.But McCollum said the car wash closings still were necessary. Its another way to conserve water, he said. Were still in an alert phase and Id rather close down car washes than industries. McCollum estimated that the citys main water source, Lake Herndon, is down by 3 feet, but he wont have the actual figures until Wednesday, he said. Russellville received less than an inch of rain during the weekend, which wasnt nearly enough to solve the areas water problems, McCollum said. If the water shortage continues, Yassney said she will cut the water supply to industries. Industry officials are prepared to have water brought in, she said.