Wednesday, November 15, 2000
|
Wednesday, November 15, 2000 |
|
County water supply down to 200 days
By DAVE HAMRICK
While drought continues to plague metro Atlanta and Fayette's water restrictions are still in place, recent rains have helped some, says Water System director Tony Parrott. "The lakes are low," said Parrott, "but we're now able to pump out of the Flint River again." Fayette's permit to pump water out of the Flint to fill its reservoirs requires that the pumping stop during the summer, but Parrott pointed out that the permit also prohibits pumping as long as the river is below a certain level, and that requirement delayed the restart of pumping after the summer of 2000. Raw water supplies in the county are now down to 200 days' worth, after starting 2000 with a year's supply, Parrott said. Supplies of treated water haven't been critically low, Parrott said, but "occasionally" get low enough to cause concern. "I don't see a problem where we're going to run out of water," he said. "We just manage what we do a little closer" when levels get low." That situation will be alleviated when two new water tanks, one holding 2.5 million gallons and the other two million gallons, come on line. The 2.5-million-gallon tank is under construction on Ga. Highway 92 at Lee's Mill Road and is expected to be finished next October. During their meeting last week, county Water Committee members voted to recommend moving forward with the other tank, on Ga. Highway 85 north of Fayetteville. It's hoped that tank can begin holding water in early 2003, said Parrott. Although not a drop of rain fell during October, demand for water dropped about 40 percent as summer heat gave way to cooler autumn weather, Parrott said. Lower demand and the recent rains "are getting us in better shape," he said. But for now, outdoor watering restrictions remain in effect. Residents water on odd days for odd addresses, even days for even, with a total ban on watering from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
|
||