Fairhope, Alabama
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| Well/Plant # 3 being expanded. |
EARLY WARM SPELL/GROWTH BLAMED
Water department superintendent Jason Langley said even though it is still winter, water usage reached record-high levels during a dry/warm spell in late February.
Normally, the 6.7 million gallons/day normally would not be expected until spring, in May or June he said.
Langley attributed the increase to irrigation of lawns and gardens but warned if the trend continues "it's not looking good for summer" when consumption peaks.
A stage 1 water alert had to be declared last June by the mayor/council during a long dry spell.
CAPACITY EXPANSION UNDERWAY
To keep up with rapid population growth, additional water wells and an expanded treatment plant are planned or under construction now at the CR 33 site in the River Park community ... and planning begun to drill another well at plant #1 on E. Fairhope Avenue near the elementary school.
Well #4 on CR 3 south of town may need to be deepened as well to conform with 'PFOS' (forever chemical) standards, depending on the final limits set by the EPA.
Installation of bigger diameter piping north along CR 33 and west on CR 48 to deliver more water to the fast-growing northern side of town won't begin until August, due to pipe acquisition supply chain issues Langley said.
When it begins, the contractor will have up to a year for that installation.
CONSERVATION STILL NEEDED
Mayor Sullivan told the Times recently conservation is still be needed to avoid more water emergencies like last summer; big neighborhoods like Rock Creek sometimes use 1 million gallons per day just for lawn watering during dry spells, she said.
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| Well/Plant #1 |
Comments
If Rock Creek and others wish to have perfect lawns, they can easily drive point wells. The high water table here allows one to strike water with a teaspoon, and a well will pay for itself.
Ban mechanized/automatic lawn watering from city supply, with hand-held watering permitted for plants.
As a bonus, many will seek alternative approaches to manicured lawns; which will go a long way in reducing the toxic chemicals flowing into our myriad waterways.
Yes, we have plenty of water from rain; a point well can get it out of the ground.
I'm not sure that gravel is the only alternative to a manicured lawn, but ignoring that false dilemma, I'd rather have my kids play in gravel than in herbicides.