Corbin residents asked to cut back on water usage for first time in a decade
By:
Kelly Mackey
Photos
For the first time in a decade, the Corbin City Utilities Commission is asking its customers to cut back on watering lawns, filling swimming pools and other activities that tax the local water supply.
That's because levels in the city's water supply, City Dam Lake, have dropped due to prolonged drought conditions, and officials say the conservation effort is way to head off any potential problems should the dry weather continue.
"I just thought it might be good to get everybody to start thinking about it," said CUC General Manager Ron Herd, who issued his first water conservation request in 10 years on Monday. "The supply has dropped in the lake. We aren't critical yet, but our plant is running about 16 hours a day now and that's more than it's ever run."
Water has stopped running over the dam that separates City Dam Lake and Laurel Lake. Herd said when water levels drop, so does raw water quality, forcing use of more chemicals to make it ready for the tap.
CUC has put a halt to fire hydrant testing in the city following the advisory issued to customers and the media. The early warning from the utility almost undoubtedly spells trouble for other water suppliers in the area. CUC sells water to the Cumberland Falls Water District, the Whitley County Water District and the Knox County Utility Commission.
Laurel County Water District No. 2 has already issued warnings about tight water supplies due to hot, dry weather.
"I don't foresee any problems, but if it doesn't rain in the next month or something, it could be trouble," Herd said. "If we are hurting, others are going to be hurting worse."
CUC can purchase raw water from the Barbourville Utility Commission which draws from Laurel Lake.
Herd said City Dam Lake is estimated to hold about 400 million gallons of water. Normaly, CUC provides about three million gallons of water daily to its 6,000 customers. Lately, that has jumped to around four million.
"I guess where its been so hot, people are watering their yards and filling up little pools and stuff," he said. "If people help conserve a bit, it will help it last, hopefully until we get more rain."
Currently, the conservation effort is voluntary. Herd said if water supplies reach critical levels, the city could enforce mandatory water restrictions, criminally citing those caught watering their lawns or engaging in other wasteful activities.
Photo by Kelly Mackey
Water from Laurel Lake has stopped flowing over a dam between it and City Dam Lake — the principal water supply for the Corbin City Utility Commission. Lower water levels due to heavy use and drought has caused CUC officials to ask water customers to cons
For the first time in a decade, the Corbin City Utilities Commission is asking its customers to cut back on watering lawns, filling swimming pools and other activities that tax the local water supply.
