Plant board issues Water Shortage Watch

The Frankfort Plant Board declared a Water Shortage Awareness Thursday and is asking customers to voluntarily cut back on outdoor and indoor use.

"Please consider minimizing all non-essential uses of water," said Warner Canes, general manger of the board.

Abnormally dry weather and little indication of significant precipitation in the future prompted the decision, said David Billing, the board's chief water engineer.

"We were almost there last week, but the rain helped us," Billing said.

The Kentucky Division of Water announces a Water Shortage Watch when the flow at Kentucky River Lock and Dam 4 reaches 225 cubic feet per second for four consecutive days. Thursday at 2 p.m. marked the fourth day.

Billing emphasized that currently all conservation is voluntary.

On average, plant board customers use a total of 10 to 11 million gallons of water each day. The board hopes voluntary conservation will drop the average by about 500,000 gallons.

"It's got to get really, really bad before we start mandatory restrictions," Billings said.
In fact, Lock 4 would have to reach 115 cubic feet per second before restrictions on non-essential water use would be enforced.

The board suggests several ways to conserve water:
>Check for leaks, especially toilet leaks
>Limit showers
>Don't leave water running while brushing teeth or shaving
>Run full loads of dishes and laundry
>Outdoor water early in the morning
>Put mulch around plants to conserve moisture
>Drive a dirtier car

"It's most important to check for leaks," Billings said. "Even with the smallest drop, you can loose 20 gallons a day. And toilet leaks count for 90 percent or residential leaks."

Rarely does the board issue a water shortage. The last time was in 2005 when one of two water pumps broke. Customers cut back by millions of gallons while a new pump was installed.

Relief could be on the way, according to the National Weather Service. There is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Thursday night and a 40 percent chance of rain Friday.
"It's just been a dry, dry summer," Billings said.