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I was thinking back over the past year about the many posts in various threads claiming that the drought was largely the result of rapid over-expansion in the Triangle. Now, as lake levels are close to normal and more rain is forecast in the next few days I'm curious to survey the City-Data landscape and find out what the consensus opinion is regarding the water supply.
For those who have stated herein that the water levels in the lakes have more to do with the population than precipitation how do you see things now? Do you still see a direct correlation? I put this out to the forum only because my wife had joked last night while watching the news that the Raleigh population must have plummeted recently in order to explain the rising water levels.
When we hit July/August and the rain stops again they'll be back to blaming the population. Seems to me every year for the past decade, the summer is dry and we hear we're in a drought, then the next spring it rains for 2 months and we're over it. Could it just happen to be the weather pattern here? Nah, that doesn't make good news. The sky must be falling after all.
Newsflash...the drought isn't over. There's a decent chance that the recent and predicted rain will bring Falls lake back to full pool, and get base streamflows back to 25% of normal, but unless we get another 4 or 5 weeks like the last one over the next two months, Falls lake will start plummeting like it did last year come may. Especially if Raleigh goes back to using 80 million gallons a day.
Obviously this is preposterous; just because the lake is almost full does not mean the drought is nearing its end. In fact, the lake levels aren't only directly relative to the rain or the population, but to both of those factors PLUS water management.
The lake may be full now, but what if it doesn't rain again until a little drizzle in June? On the flip side, we could get rain in buckets if a tropical system comes through in August. However, regardless of what happens with the rain, if people are allowed to water their lawns with reckless abandon and otherwise squander drinking water, some definitely will since they think it is their right to do so (oh yes, and the endless pursuit of the perfect lawn).
Yes, the water shortage (notice I did not say drought) does have someting to do with population increases. The more population you have drawing from the same water source could lead to a shortage if there is not responsible management even without a drought. There obviously has not been responsible water management in the city of Raleigh throughout this entire time of drought, or else we wouldn't have seen so many crisis knee-jerk reactions.
The town of Cary has seen tons of gowth just like Raleigh has, and they have been through the same drought, but they seem to have a handle on water management to prevent crisis. It's all about being proactive, not reactive. There are more and more people drawing from the same pool of water, and if there is even less rain than normal, there is going to be a problem. If the city of Raleigh hasn't learned that from this past year, they never will and we'll be dealing with a rollercoaster of water restrictions and crises every time there is a major drought.
Yes, the water shortage (notice I did not say drought) does have someting to do with population increases. The more population you have drawing from the same water source could lead to a shortage if there is not responsible management even without a drought. There obviously has not been responsible water management in the city of Raleigh throughout this entire time of drought, or else we wouldn't have seen so many crisis knee-jerk reactions.
The town of Cary has seen tons of gowth just like Raleigh has, and they have been through the same drought, but they seem to have a handle on water management to prevent crisis. It's all about being proactive, not reactive. There are more and more people drawing from the same pool of water, and if there is even less rain than normal, there is going to be a problem. If the city of Raleigh hasn't learned that from this past year, they never will and we'll be dealing with a rollercoaster of water restrictions and crises every time there is a major drought.
This might just be the best post I've read about the water situation in the Triangle.
A drought is less than normal precipitation for an extended period of time – nothing to do with population growth.
This summer will be a repeat of what we see every year: Spring rains replenish some of our water supply, City Hall proclaims the crisis is over and removes water restrictions, people go back to their old ways, a hot dry summer with no rain will drain Falls Lake and by July will be back in crisis mode with maximum restrictions.
And the pendulum will once again swing from one extreme to the other.
I can’t replace my disposal because it’s a waste of water (or whatever reason they come up with this week) but I can go to a commercial car wash and use 50 gallons of water that won’t get recycled. How does that make any sense?
The banning of disposals has nothing to do with water use. The ban was created because sewage pipes were bursting from massive clogs made up of food and grease. Fixing those line breaks is expensive. Raleigh is hoping that people who don't have disposals will be less likely to put food and grease down their drains, resulting in fewer clogs & broken pipes.
The banning of disposals has nothing to do with water use. The ban was created because sewage pipes were bursting from massive clogs made up of food and grease. Fixing those line breaks is expensive. Raleigh is hoping that people who don't have disposals will be less likely to put food and grease down their drains, resulting in fewer clogs & broken pipes.
Really? Where exactly are all these broken pipes?? The issue is with sewers overflowing due to accumulated grease.....not chopped up bits of food. Banning disposals will not stop people from pouring grease and fat down the drain....
NY has lifted its garbage disposal ban and some municipalities like Indianapolis and Denver actually REQUIRE garbage disposals in all new homes...
Putting more food scraps in the trash just adds to the landfill problem, from one environmental catastrophe to another.
The disposal ban is ill conceived in my opinion.
Fortunately it doesn't impact me so my disposal will continue to get daily use.
Really? Where exactly are all these broken pipes?? The issue is with sewers overflowing due to accumulated grease.....not chopped up bits of food. Banning disposals will not stop people from pouring grease and fat down the drain....
I'm just telling you their reasons. Not saying I agree.
Raleigh has been considering the ban on disposals for years. It isn't something they came up with during the drought & their reasons for instituting the ban, from what I have read, have little to do with water use.
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