CU Continues to Ask for Water Conservation
By: April Hansen
Updated: August 12, 2012
Springfield -- City Utilities is continuing to ask for your cooperation for water conservation.
The dry conditions and the triple digit temperatures are causing water storage levels to drop and if the current conditions continue, conservation will become mandatory.
Even though today may be an exception, the record breaking temperatures and dry weather are why our local water sources are in such distress. So much that City Utilities is asking for your cooperation to conserve water, but soon voluntary action may not be enough.
Trees are stressed, lawns are brown and Springfield's water storage is trying to keep up with the demand for water.
Just like many other communities in the Ozarks, Springfield is feeling the pains of the drought.
"We're doing everything we can do make sure the water supply is there," said Joel Alexander, Manager of Communications for City Utilities.
Alexander says the city's water storage is at 65 percent.
That's 20 percent lower than the average at this time of the year.
If the dry weather conditions continue, the water storage may drop into a crisis stage.
"We need our customers to take additional voluntary conservation steps to help get us through this time," said Alexander.
If the water storage drops below 60 percent, it will be the first time the city will have to activate it's Emergency Water Conservation Plan.
"If we enter into that stage one, there are mandatory restrictions that would go into place. One of the things that would trigger for the first stage to show how serious this would be an 18 percent increase per unit on water use," said Alexander.
As well as stricter rules on watering lawns and gardens, and water at restaurants would only be by request.
One local restaurant is one step ahead of the water crisis. Farmer's gastropub's General Manager says since the restaurant opened in 2009, conserving water has always been a priority.
"We filter all of our own water so we don't have to buy plastic bottles, so we always try to be one step ahead of the crowd in environmental and recycling that everyone now is paying attention to," said James Lathem.
Lathem says now is when the community should be extra conscious about conserving water and incorporating it into every day life.
"Do your really need to turn your faucet on while your brushing your teeth and letting it run out. Is there anyway you can collect rain water instead of turning on your sprinklers at night," said Lathem.
Currently, the city is asking for voluntary water conservation and ask all customers to consider using the odd/even watering program, water only during the early morning hours and turning off faucets and taking shorter showers.
The dry conditions and the triple digit temperatures are causing water storage levels to drop and if the current conditions continue, conservation will become mandatory.
Even though today may be an exception, the record breaking temperatures and dry weather are why our local water sources are in such distress. So much that City Utilities is asking for your cooperation to conserve water, but soon voluntary action may not be enough.
Trees are stressed, lawns are brown and Springfield's water storage is trying to keep up with the demand for water.
Just like many other communities in the Ozarks, Springfield is feeling the pains of the drought.
"We're doing everything we can do make sure the water supply is there," said Joel Alexander, Manager of Communications for City Utilities.
Alexander says the city's water storage is at 65 percent.
That's 20 percent lower than the average at this time of the year.
If the dry weather conditions continue, the water storage may drop into a crisis stage.
"We need our customers to take additional voluntary conservation steps to help get us through this time," said Alexander.
If the water storage drops below 60 percent, it will be the first time the city will have to activate it's Emergency Water Conservation Plan.
"If we enter into that stage one, there are mandatory restrictions that would go into place. One of the things that would trigger for the first stage to show how serious this would be an 18 percent increase per unit on water use," said Alexander.
As well as stricter rules on watering lawns and gardens, and water at restaurants would only be by request.
One local restaurant is one step ahead of the water crisis. Farmer's gastropub's General Manager says since the restaurant opened in 2009, conserving water has always been a priority.
"We filter all of our own water so we don't have to buy plastic bottles, so we always try to be one step ahead of the crowd in environmental and recycling that everyone now is paying attention to," said James Lathem.
Lathem says now is when the community should be extra conscious about conserving water and incorporating it into every day life.
"Do your really need to turn your faucet on while your brushing your teeth and letting it run out. Is there anyway you can collect rain water instead of turning on your sprinklers at night," said Lathem.
Currently, the city is asking for voluntary water conservation and ask all customers to consider using the odd/even watering program, water only during the early morning hours and turning off faucets and taking shorter showers.
