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Water crisis grips Wise, Appalachia
Friday, Nov 02, 2007 - 12:59 AM
BY David McGee
Staff Writer
Wise County and the town of Appalachia declared water emergencies on Thursday, restricting some water use and urging voluntary conservation.
"We have declared a water crisis," county spokeswoman Karen Mullins said. "We are imposing mandatory water-usage prohibitions on all non-essential water usage and asking for conservation measures that are not mandatory."
As the drought continues across the region, county residents will no longer be allowed to wash vehicles, streets, windows, lawns and landscaping, or run decorative water fountains. Restaurants can only serve water to patrons who request it, Mullins said.
Voluntary measures include reducing water usage at home and work.
The county has notified residents by letter and plans to conduct a reverse 911 call today.
"The concern isn't water from the [county's] Service Authority. The concern is if we would have to borrow from that for other systems like Appalachia or Big Stone Gap," Mullins said.
Restrictions now in place in the small town of Appalachia are even more severe because its reservoir contains only a 60-day supply, Town Manager Fred Luntsford told News Channel 11.
Each household is now limited to using 4,000 gallons per month and will be charged additional fees for using more. A car wash has temporarily closed and all other town businesses are restricted to 80 percent of their normal water usage.
To further address the immediate problem, Appalachia officials plan to install pipe to the Powell River, which runs through town, and pump water back into its reservoir. They hope to begin taking water from the river by mid-November, Luntsford said.
"We use about 400,000 gallons a day and we will be able to pump about 450,000 to 500,000 gallons back into the reservoir," he said.
The county plans to apply for a permit from the state's Department of Environmental Quality to access the river, said Jane Bennett, the county's emergency operations coordinator.
"We would be allowed to take 10 percent from the river. Part of our process would be to monitor the weather, stream flow and [water] processing. The last thing we want is any kind of environmental impact," Bennett said.
The county has some experience dealing with a water crisis. The town of Big Stone Gap ran out of water two years ago.
"It's probably a good thing we've been through this drill with Big Stone Gap," Bennett said.
Also on Thursday, Bristol Virginia Utilities officials echoed Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine's Wednesday call for voluntary water conservation.
The utilities provider began distributing a two-page list of household conservation tips, said BVU President Wes Rosenbalm.
"We are not in any kind of emergency situation," Rosenbalm said. "But if lower-than-normal rainfall amounts continue through the winter months, our situation could change by next spring. So it's best to do everything we can to conserve water."
Last week, Bristol Tennessee officials said they weren't concerned about water supply.
"Our raw water intake is below the spillway of South Holston Dam, so our situation is much more stable," Deputy City Manager Bill Sorah said. "So long as there's water in South Holston Lake, we should be fine."
A water shortage is neither a short- or long-term issue, Sorah said.
In addition to city residents, the city system provides water for several utility districts in rural Sullivan County, Tenn.
The entire region remains locked in a drought, according to the most recent drought report by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Rainfall is about 15 inches below normal for the year. Conditions in the cities of Bristol, Va., and Norton, along with Lee, Scott, Wise and portions of Washington, Dickenson and Russell counties are classified as "exceptional" ? the most severe classification of drought.
The Washington County, Va., Service Authority may also jump on the voluntary conservation bandwagon later this month, General Manager Robbie Cornett said.
"I plan to review our emergency water conservation plan with the board at our next regular meeting on Nov. 26," Cornett said. "I'll probably recommend the board consider a similar announcement to what BVU made, as an interim step."
Washington County gets its water from several sources and is in no immediate danger, Cornett said.
"It could be a much bigger issue in the spring," he added.
If the board enacts its emergency plan, residents would see substantial restrictions, Cornett said.
BVU has similar restrictions, which are currently being reviewed.
News Channel 11 contributed to this report.
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