Published: August 30, 2007 08:30 am            

Richmond water restrictions still voluntary

Although three counties surrounding Madison have placed mandatory water restrictions on customers, those who receive their water from Richmond Utilities have not yet reached that point, Richmond Utilities Board members said Wednesday.

That is not to say Richmond customers should not be conserving water, however, or that possible mandatory restrictions will not be coming soon. With clear skies forecast for days to come, the longer the area goes without rain, the more mandatory restrictions will become likely. Board members discussed the city’s water situation during a regular meeting Wednesday and determined only voluntary water restrictions are necessary at this point.

“We haven’t had any measurable rain in the last two weeks,” said Richmond Utilities Superintendent Scott Althauser. “And we had very little before that.”

The pool Richmond Utilities pulls its water from at the Kentucky River has maintained an adequate level, until recently, Althauser said. At the beginning of August, the discharge of water to the dam was flowing at 2,000 cubic feet per second, an average level, Althauser said. Today, the discharge level was flowing at 108 cubic feet per second.

“There has been a dramatic reduction,” said Wade Johnson, a Richmond Utilities engineer.

But it is not just the lack of rain causing the drought conditions, Althauser said. High temperatures continue to cause what little moisture there is to evaporate and dry out the region. Also, with both Eastern Kentucky University and the county schools back in session, water usage has increased.

A new water plant in the College Hill Road area will help treat more water when it is completed soon, but work to reach the 12-million-gallon treatment goal still is under way. While the new plant won’t help this season, if drought conditions become a problem next summer, the city will be better prepared.

Board members approved a raw water intake contract Wednesday that will help to reach that goal. The new plant also will play a role in supplying water to new growth in the city, Althauser said.

For now, good common sense and voluntary actions will help to get through the remainder of the dry season. Althauser is hoping the city utilities will not have to mandate water restrictions.

“Hopefully we will have a much wetter September and October,” Althauser said. “It was July 2005 when we went to (mandatory restrictions) here and we are almost in September. We are over the hump.”

If customers do find it necessary to water outside, Althauser said a good rule of thumb to follow is to water on even numbered days if your address is an even number, and odd numbered days for odd number addresses.

In other business Wednesday, the board:

• Lowered the natural gas rate by 5.56 percent beginning on bills mailed after Aug. 1.

• Tabled an ordinance charging a flat rate for gas service and transportation. Board members are considering assessing a $10 rate each month during summer months when many customers turn off their gas, but the city utilities still are working to read and monitor gas meters and transport gas to homes. The item was tabled until more research can be completed.

• Passed an ordinance to extend water and sewer outside the city limits to those county residences whose personal property would be utilized to run water and sewer lines to the new sewer plant in exchange for easements.

Kelly Foreman can be reached at kforeman@richmondregister.com or 624-6694.

        

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