Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
At last night's city council meeting the proposed water rate hike was discussed. One of the ideas thrown around was the thought that by allowing folks to water once a week it might raise revenue enough that the 16% hike wouldn't be needed, or that it could be less than 16%. No decision was made either way -- they want some projections on how much money could be raised and how this could affect the rate hike before making a decision.
What are your thoughts? Is this a valid reason for easing water restrictions? Is it too early to allow once-a-week watering or is the time right?
Here's the Observer story on the meeting. (http://www.charlotte.com/109/story/551301.html - broken link)
I install lawn sprinklers for a living. If the restrictions aren't eased soon, I'll be doing this back in Michigan - at least for a while. So I'm really curious as to what the general opinion among Charlotteans is.
I personally don't think water use is a privilege that should be doled out at the government's discretion based solely upon their ability to maximize the money they bring in.
In this case depending on the numbers, they should probably ease the restrictions a bit both because of the rainfall we've received to date and to help make up some of the shortfall.
I think they should ease the restrictions slightly to allow hand watering once per week (for limited amounts of time), and washing a car once a week. IMHO this should be done with some controls (like odd or even days based on address, or area you live) because, as I've seen so many times, you give some people an inch, they'll take a mile.
I think they should ease the restrictions slightly to allow hand watering once per week (for limited amounts of time), and washing a car once a week. IMHO this should be done with some controls (like odd or even days based on address, or area you live) because, as I've seen so many times, you give some people an inch, they'll take a mile.
I agree about residential car washing. It seems to take less water at home than at car washes. And, I'd rather pay a higher water bill and do it myself. As for lawn watering, maybe hand watering but not soakers.
All I know is I've never seen Lake Norman water levels as high as they are since I've lived up here. The sandy beach my dogs used to romp around on at Jetton Park--no longer there!!
Why is everyone so ready to give up perserving water. Summer is not here yet and the next drought is just around the corner. Maybe it is time to start planting lawns that take less water and bushes that survive the heat.
Car washes at home may take less water, but most of the commercial car washes treat and recycle the water they use and then dispose of the water into proper water treatment facilities.
Union County allows soaker hoses and hand held watering for bushes. Not sure about Meck county. Still, I use water that I collect in a tub that drains off my roof. The tub is hidden from the street since its behind a series of shrubs I have in the front of my house.
Getting back to topic...
Personally, I don't think they should take the restrictions off yet. Lake levels are high, but soil moisture is still low from last years deficit. We still need a couple more months of normal rainfall to get the soil moisture closer to normal.
There is no need to water right now because we have been getting drenching rainfall over the past 2 months.
Lets see where we are around Memorial day and go from there...
Why is everyone so ready to give up perserving water. Summer is not here yet and the next drought is just around the corner. Maybe it is time to start planting lawns that take less water and bushes that survive the heat.
The problem is, the next drought may be just around the corner or it may not be. It's really a guessing game, just because it's summer doesn't mean there will be a drought. The summer before last when I came out to visit it poured 3 out of 4 days... and I mean all day drenching. A couple of days like that last summer and we would be having a different conversation right now.
However, I am all for your thought of changing grass and bush types. I myself just put down bermuda seed over my dead fescue in my backyard. I am from texas and that is exactly why most people there use bermuda, its heat tolerant and requires far less water to stay healthy.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
