A voluntary water conservation notice for county residents was announced Wednesday by Madison Judge-Executive Kent Clark.
Residents are being asked to decrease their use of water for all non-essential purposes that includes non-commercial watering of gardens and lawns, washing vehicles, driveways, sidewalks, etc.
Potable water uses in Madison County are near record high levels and if this usage continues, mandatory conservation efforts may be necessary, according to the notice sent out Wednesday.
The Kentucky Division of Water has reduced the amount of water Madison County is allowed to withdrawal, according to Clark’s statement.
“The best things to do would be to cut down the amount of outside watering,” said Becky Turpin, office manager at Madison County Utilities. “Cut down on watering plants, maybe not worry about topping-off swimming pools, washing vehicles and maybe even cut back on the length of time you spend in the shower.”
“We need a good, significant, soaking rainfall,” she said. “The county buys (water) from the city.”
Therefore, whenever the county goes on a voluntary water restriction, so must the city, she said.
Richmond Utilities customers will receive a notice about a voluntary water restriction on their next water bill, which was recently decided at a Richmond Utilities board meeting.
A public notice was issued to local media Wednesday about the city’s voluntary water conservation.
“These measures are necessary to decrease production demand from the river,” said Richmond Mayor Connie Lawson. “We are asking all residents of the city of Richmond to conserve water as much as possible to help ease the present condition.
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.
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 will bring no help this season, if drought conditions become a problem next summer, the city will be better prepared, he said.
A voluntary water restriction was called for Aug. 23 by those at Berea Municipal Utilities.
The utilities company is asking residents to cut their water usage by at least 10 percent and it is being suggested that lawns and flower gardens only be watered from 6 to 8 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. to prevent water loss from evaporation, said Donald Blackburn, manager of Berea Municipal Utilities.
The 9,000 residents who are customers of the Berea Municipal Utilities are being asked to cut back on washing vehicles, watering lawns, gardens, flowers, parks, playing fields or other recreational areas.
The water pumps at Berea Municipal Utilities were running about 18 hours a day when the voluntary restriction was announced. The average time for pumping is about 14 to 15 hours in regular conditions.
There is a 30 percent chance of isolated thunderstorms tonight, according to information from The Weather Channel at www.weather.com.
More sporadic thunderstorms are being predicted for Sept. 10-11 (30 percent chance), Sept. 12 (40 percent chance) and Sept. 14 (60 percent chance).
Call Madison County Utilities at 624-1735 for more information about the county’s voluntary water restrictions. Call Richmond Utilities at 623-2323 for more information about the city’s restrictions.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.
Local News
Decreasing water use
County, city ask for voluntary conservation
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Judge weighs constitutionality of legislative redistricting
Kentucky’s deadline for filing to run for legislative seats was in flux on Monday because a judge did not immediately rule on a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of newly redrawn district boundaries.
Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd said he expects to enter a ruling in the case by mid-week.
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Arlington Country Club, which has been a staple of Eastern Kentucky University for the past 40 years, laid off all dining staff late last week, according to Tom Coffey of the EKU Foundation.
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Almost a year ago, Arnold Rampersad stood in the East Room of the White House as he was presented the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama.
On Thursday, Feb. 16, the noted author will stand in O’Donnell Hall of Eastern Kentucky University’s Student Success Building to deliver the keynote address for the university’s Black History Month observance. Rampersad’s visit is also part of Eastern’s year-long Chautauqua lecture series, and the title of his talk, “Black History: The Challenge of Living with Others,” coincides with this year’s Chautauqua theme, “Living with Others: Challenges and Promises.” -
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity of Madison and Clark Counties, which has built 160 homes for people in need since 1992, is seeking applicants for partner families, according to Judy Flavell, executive director of the organization.
“We really need applicants right now,” Flavell said. “More people can qualify for Habitat homes than people realize.”
Eligible applicants must have lived in Madison or Clark counties for at least one year, have a stable income, be able to pay a modest monthly mortgage and be able to demonstrate that their current housing is overcrowded, physically substandard, too expensive, unsafe, or they are living in subsidized housing, according to Habitat.
For more information about eligibility, or to apply, call Habitat for Humanity at 625-9208 or visit its office at 1417 East Main Street in Richmond. Visit online at habitatmadisonclark.org. -
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For local adults who are experiencing memory loss related to dementia or Alzheimer’s, the Department of Occupational Therapy at Eastern Kentucky University has provided “The Place to Be” for the past two decades.
The department will again sponsor the free eight-week program on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., beginning Feb. 9. Participants can attend Thursday and/or Friday. Applications still are being accepted (call 893-0653) for the free service, which is offered in Room 100 of the Dizney Building on EKU’s campus. -
Bible Belt towns in state consider going ‘wet’
In this Appalachian college town where socially conservative views are bedrocks of life, some people want to do what was once unthinkable: legalize liquor sales.
Supporters say passing the measure in Tuesday’s special election in Barbourville would tap a new revenue source in a place where hundreds of jobs are evaporating as one plant shuts down and another cuts its workforce in half. But from the pulpits to the courthouse square, opponents have been pressing their case that uncorking liquor sales would irreparably harm the town of about 3,200. - More Local News Headlines
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