Tags:
| Updated: 7/03/2012 4:32 pm |
Published: 7/02/2012 2:12 pm |
Update from Maumelle Water Management:
Once a week watering is scheduled to begin on Thursday. Customers are asked to water on the same day their trash is picked up. The only exception is for people who have trash pickup on Tuesday or Wednesday. Maumelle Water says those customers may water this upcoming Thursday.
As soon as Well #12 is back on-line, Maumelle Water will evaluate and may allow twice a week watering. Watering will be limited until the capacity of the system is back up to 6.7 million gallons/day.
Those residents who are unwilling to comply with the watering restrictions will face sanctions. On the first offense, the homeowner will be asked to turn off the system off or have the system turned off for them.
On the second offense, Maumelle Water will lock the meter or pull the meter completely. A second offense will be considered meter tampering and there will be a $200 charge to restart the service.
MAUMELLE, AR – The Maumelle City Council decided Monday night that residents will be allowed to water their lawns once per week, starting Thursday. The council says watering will be allowed the same day as your trash pickup.
Outdoor watering was banned due to a mechanical failure over the weekend.
Emails and fliers went out Monday morning, and word of the ban began to trickle throughout Maumelle even as water crews were trying to cut off the flow of water for all outdoor sprinkler systems.
"They are pretty understanding, there will be a few that will be upset," says Larry Pruss, with Maumelle Water Management. Pruss is going meter to meter, shutting down sprinkler systems as part of the mandatory water conservation order.
Nearby Lake Maumelle is the water source for a majority of central Arkansas, but not for people living in Maumelle. Instead they depend on 11 ground wells for their water. After a failure Sunday, they now only have access to 9.
“People have a lot of money invested in their lawns. I do too, but you’ve got to make a choice sometimes,” says Barry Heller, with Maumelle Water Management.
Maumelle Water thinks they have a solution, but it’s not going to happen overnight. A new well under construction could be operational in the next couple of weeks and provide more of the water the city needs.
Maumelle Water hopes everyone will cooperate with the ban. Residents who do not comply will have their sprinkler systems permanently shut off and will be charged a $35 reconnect fee.
Tips on conserving water from the Arkansas Department of Health
•Comply with water conservation guidelines that your water system may request or require such as watering on alternate days.
•Water your lawn only when it needs it. Deep soak the lawn rather than sprinkling lightly which tends to evaporate quickly.
•Water during the cool part of the day such as early morning.
•Don’t waste water on gutters, driveways, and sidewalks.
•Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Mulch will hold moisture longer and slow evaporation.
•Use automatic dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads.
•Don’t let the faucet run when cleaning vegetables or washing dishes. Rinse them in a stoppered sink or pan of clean water.
•Don’t let the water continuously run when brushing your teeth or shaving.
•Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. Running tap water to cool it off for drinking is wasteful.
•Check faucets, pipes, and toilets for drips or leaks.
•Use a broom to clean sidewalks—not a hose.
•Take a quick shower instead of a big bath.
•Install water-saving showerheads or flow restrictors.
