Pool-filling and hand-watering would be OK too

The Fayette County Board of Commissioners will soon determine whether the county will allow new landscaping to be watered every other day for 10 weeks.

How much that will affect levels of the county’s water reservoir in the late spring and summer months is unknown, county officials have said. But County Commission Chairman Jack Smith said Wednesday that the watering restrictions could be changed if problems arise.

In addition to the allowance for new landscaping, the committee is recommending that pool-filling be allowed along with hand-watering of landscaped plants. The hand-watering guidelines would be the same as the state’s, meaning that every other day a homeowner could use one hose with a shut-off spigot on the end to water landscaping for up to 25 minutes between the hours of midnight and 10 a.m.

The landscaping recommendation was approved Wednesday morning by the county’s water committee, but the Commission will have the final say.

Two weeks ago, Water System Director Tony Parrott expressed concerns about allowing new landscaping to be watered. But since then there was a significant amount of pressure applied on the Commission by the local landscape industry, which was acknowledged by Smith.

Meanwhile, recent rains have significantly increased the level of Lake Kedron and slightly helped the level of Lake Horton in south Fayette. Between both lakes the county has a 300-day water supply, assuming that four million gallons are used each day.

But during the summer months the county will be allowed to distribute just upwards of 10 million gallons a day under the new 10 percent water production cuts ordered by Gov. Sonny Perdue. At that rate of consumption, the county would have enough water currently stored to last 120 days.

State officials have said not allowing pools to be filled could create a health hazard by allowing stagnant water to become potential mosquito breeding grounds.

The pool-filling allowance also means that kiddie pools can be used by local residents, officials said.

Though the Fayette County water system serves most all of Fayette, the city of Fayetteville has its own water system. The Fayetteville City Council will determine whether or not to follow the county’s watering restrictions, but officials have said they would prefer they be the same to achieve consistency in expectations of residents and also in enforcement when necessary.

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