Citizens urged to restrict water use during drought
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

Franklin County is one of 53 Pennsylvania counties under a Drought Watch, as issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Envrionmental Protection in October. The agency recommends everyone voluntarily reduce water consumption by five percent.

Ken Myers, Manager of the Greencastle Area Franklin County Water Authority, said the Authority has been tracking a decline in the flow of water from its springs. It began pumping from back-up wells.

"The reservoir levels were down 27 inches," he said. "Now that we are on the wells, the reservoir is full again."

Antrim Township has seen a drop in its water level, but it is not cause for concern, according to Antrim Township Municipal Authority Utilities Director Charles Goetz.

Water is normally six to eight feet below ground level at the treatment plant on Sherwood Drive, but currently is at 20 feet. During the dry spell in 2000- 2001, it was at 45 feet and the plant was still able to meet demand.

"We are blessed that the water table is very high in that area," he said. "We have the water but we still ask for voluntary restriction of consumption."

Myers recommended some of the traditional methods of conserving water.

If washing a car or watering a garden or lawn, use a bucket instead of a hose. Better yet, don't do it at all.

Take shorter showers and minimize the number of toilet flushings.

Make sure washing machines and dishwashers are full before running.

Don't let the faucet run while brushing teeth.

Check plumbing fixtures and repair as needed.

Adrought watch is the first and least severe of the state's three drought watch declarations. It calls for a voluntary five percent reduction in non-essential water use. A drought warning - also a voluntary measure - asks users to reduce water consumption by 10 to 15 percent.

"We are asking everyone in the affected counties to be diligent in conserving water since long-range forecasts are not predicting the kind of slow, steady, soaking rain needed to break the drought," said DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty. "In addition, reducing demand at this time of year is more challenging since most of our water use is associated with indoor activities."

Because of the dry summer, DEP first issued a drought watch on Aug. 6 and it updates the list of affected counties as a task force monitors water supplies.

"Unfortunately, many counties have had below-normal precipitation over the last several weeks, causing record-low stream flows in some cases and continued decline of groundwater, surface water and reservoir levels," continued McGinty. "Currently, there are approximately 80 public water systems in the state under voluntary or mandatory restrictions."

In Clinton and Clearfield counties, public water suppliers are purchasing water from other systems or trucking it in to meet demand.