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Water shortage hits critical level |
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Tuesday, 23 October 2007 |
by NICK IANNIELLO
News Reporter
In response to the recent drought, North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley called on all citizens to cut water consumption by 50 percent.
At the Oct. 15 North Carolina League of Municipalities Annual Conference in Fayetteville, Easley asked 1,000 top city and town officials to set the example for water consumption by not watering lawns, washing cars, houses, driveways, or sidewalks, and asking restaurants to only serve water to when patrons ask for it.
“A bit of mud on the car or patches of brown on the lawn must be a badge of honor,” Easley said. “It means you are doing the right thing for your community and our state.”
The drought across much of the state is the worst in recorded history and the winter forecast is for dry conditions.
Easley said some water systems could run dry in as little as 90 days without rain.
 The Watauga River is currently running at half it’s median flow for this time of year. Photo by Derek DeSha
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Easley also announced an immediate statewide ban on all public burning.
According to the N.C. Division of Forest Resources, over 5,940 fires
have burned more than 33,085 acres of land this year.
“State law gives me emergency powers to take action, even ordering
rationing, if there is a threat to life and property,” Easley said to
local leaders. “Now, I do not want to have to use these powers. I am
asking for your help. Your communities, businesses, and neighbors need
you to help make the tough choices today to avoid a crisis in the weeks
and months to come.”
A recent federal drought map showed that 56 counties in the mountains
and piedmont region, including Watauga County, are experiencing
exceptional drought - the worst level.
The other 44 counties are experiencing extreme, severe, or moderate drought.
Boone is currently under Stage 1 water restrictions, which asks
residents to limit their water use, but has no mandatory regulations.
According to a press release by Easley, 118 public water systems have
enacted voluntary water use restrictions and another 106 have put
mandatory restrictions in place.
Of the 4.81 million North Carolina residents, about 71 percent of the
people served by water systems tracked by the state are being subjected
to water use restrictions.
Boone pulls about 1.67 million gallons of water per day from the South
Fork of the New River and Winkler’s Creek, which is 54 percent of the
water treatment plant’s capacity, according to the water treatment
facility’s Web site.
“This is typically the driest time of the year as far as creek levels
are concerned,” said geography and planning professor Michael W.
Mayfield.
During the summer months, trees suck up most of the moisture that comes
from rain. However, since there was such a dry summer water levels in
most creeks are at record lows, Mayfield said.
Mayfield said the Watauga River is at half of it usual median flow for this time of year.
Mayfield said rain is absorbed by the soil. This will continue until the ground reaches “field capacity.”
“The good news is that we’re supposed to get a lot of rain this week,” Mayfield said.
The National Weather service is calling for more than 3 inches in the coming days.
Despite restrictions, some local businesses are doing just fine.
“Anytime there’s a water restriction in place, we do everything we can
to conserve,” said Chris R. Streva, store manager for Auto Bell.
Streva said Auto Bell, which recycles 80 percent of its water and treats it, has seen a slight increase in business.
“I think that by choosing a professional car wash, people think they are doing their part to help the drought,” Streva said.
Streva said the typical “driveway” car wash uses around 100 gallons of water.
“The way we stay in business is treating and recycling water and protecting the environment,” Streva said.
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