Monterey, Many rural areas still without 'city' water. (Cookeville, Maryville: houses, live in)

[John1960]

MONTEREY -- About every other day, Clester Farley has to haul jugs of water up to his home located on the border of Overton and Putnam County.
It has certainly become a tedious task for him and his wife Wanda -- for the past 16 years the couple has found ways to conserve water by using rain barrels and troughs, but with this year's drought, those barrels, along with all their springs and ponds, are completely dry.

And with no water lines serving this remote area in Rock Springs, about five miles northwest of Monterey, he and his 29 neighbors really have no other choice.

Welcome to the Herald-Citizen Web Page!!

[tobybear]

Originally Posted by John1960

MONTEREY -- About every other day, Clester Farley has to haul jugs of water up to his home located on the border of Overton and Putnam County.
It has certainly become a tedious task for him and his wife Wanda -- for the past 16 years the couple has found ways to conserve water by using rain barrels and troughs, but with this year's drought, those barrels, along with all their springs and ponds, are completely dry.

And with no water lines serving this remote area in Rock Springs, about five miles northwest of Monterey, he and his 29 neighbors really have no other choice.

Welcome to the Herald-Citizen Web Page!!

Dosent that just mean that the people who live in the area havent decided to pool their resources together and dig a community well and run pipes to everyones home?

[jabogitlu]

Even my relatives in Greene County who have wells have been hauling their clothes to, and taking showers at, relatives' city-water houses because they're afraid of running their wells dry.

[harry chickpea]

Quick thoughts. Tractor Supply has reasonably priced potable water tanks and cisterns, even as large as a couple thousand gallons. Any building supply place has 4 and 6 mil poly sheeting used as a vapor barrier under buildings. I'm looking at some right now that is covering some of my lumber and has a nice little pond from today's rain. A new sump pump and garden hose can transport the water from such a catchment into a tank or cistern. After the rain, roll up the plastic until next time to keep it clean.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

Quick thoughts. Tractor Supply has reasonably priced potable water tanks and cisterns, even as large as a couple thousand gallons. Any building supply place has 4 and 6 mil poly sheeting used as a vapor barrier under buildings. I'm looking at some right now that is covering some of my lumber and has a nice little pond from today's rain. A new sump pump and garden hose can transport the water from such a catchment into a tank or cistern. After the rain, roll up the plastic until next time to keep it clean.

That's a really good idea, particularly for those whose livelihood (like farmers) who rely on a plentiful supply of water.

One thing that this drought has made me realize: I am sooooo thankful for the TVA and all these lakes we have. Even though many of the big TVA and COE lakes are low, those communities whose water comes from those lakes still have enough water to last a while. It's those communities like Maryville and Alcoa, towns whose water comes from small rivers, that have suffered the most. At least that's the impression I have.

[firepower]

Originally Posted by JMT

That's a really good idea, particularly for those whose livelihood (like farmers) who rely on a plentiful supply of water.

One thing that this drought has made me realize: I am sooooo thankful for the TVA and all these lakes we have. Even though many of the big TVA and COE lakes are low, those communities whose water comes from those lakes still have enough water to last a while. It's those communities like Maryville and Alcoa, towns whose water comes from small rivers, that have suffered the most. At least that's the impression I have.

You're right! We're sure lucky to get our water from Center Hill!



firepower

[JMT]

Originally Posted by firepower

You're right! We're sure lucky to get our water from Center Hill!



firepower

That's exactly what I was thinking! Cookeville was definitely thinking ahead when it decided to get its water from Center Hill way back in the 1960s (I think), and they put the intake pipes DEEP into the lake so that even when the water level gets really low, they still have lots of water. Now let's just pray that Center Hill Dam never bursts...

[TnHilltopper]

I believe the heading of this thread to be misleading. Most areas, even rural ones now have access to county water, granted not all. Thanks to the efforts of Bart Gordon, Congressman in District 6, the rural water initiative he helped to bring to fruition has brought chlorinated and fluoridated water to a great many areas that have never had access before.

[jimj]

I agree with the above, why not punch a well?