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July 21, 2012

State, water company urge limits on usage

The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — While Terre Haute has a strong water supply from a deep well, state officials and Indiana American Water Co. are asking its customers statewide to “use water wisely” this summer.

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources earlier this week issued a warning declaration asking larger water users to voluntarily reduce water use by 10 to 15 percent.

Those large users have the capacity to draw 100,000 gallons per day, either from ground water sources or surface water intake.

“In most instances, those are some factories, public water utilities, some farming operations, golf courses and school corporations,” said DNR spokesman Phil Bloom.

“We have had some rain, sporadic around the state, but certainly not enough to significantly effect the status” of a drought, Bloom said.

The state in 1994 initiated a water shortage plan — in response to drought conditions in 1988. The plan was updated in 2009.

It includes three stages — watch, warning and the final emergency stage, which requires mandatory reductions of water use such as for watering lawns.

The state uses monitoring criteria, which include a one-month rainfall index, the U.S. Drought Monitor report and stream flow as the percentage of average flow, Bloom said.

For example, the Wabash River in Terre Haute in June had a stream flow of 2,322 cubic feet of water per second. The water flow had fallen 860 cubic feet per second Thursday and 848 cubic feet per second on Friday, which is “10 percent of normal river stream flow,” Bloom said.

One dry area effected by the river is the Wabashiki Fish & Wildlife Area near West Terre Haute, with just a few spots of the wetland holding water deep enough to support fish.

“This is a natural part of the [wetland] ecology, but it is unfortunate that we have experienced large fish kills this year from the heat and depleted oxygen levels in the water. It does, however, provide food for other wildlife,” said Kara Kish, assistant superintendent of the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department.

Parks Superintendent Keith Ruble said the area will be replenished naturally with fish when the Wabash River swells from winter runoff and spring rains.

Nearly 60 percent of the water used by Indiana American Water statewide comes from groundwater sources.

“While we are not currently experiencing any problems meeting customer demand across the state, we recognize the need to use water wisely now to avoid supply issues later, so we are asking our customers to think about how they are using water and to do what they can to reduce their usage while the drought conditions continue,” said Indiana American Water President Alan DeBoy.

DeBoy said Indiana American Water is regularly monitoring its facilities and sources of water to ensure the company can continue to meet customer and public safety needs.

Tips:

• Limit nonessential uses like washing driveways, sidewalks, buildings and vehicles.

• Limit use of water for outside plants, lawn and landscape areas by watering only every other day or less.

• Avoid any use of water that results in flooding or run-off in waterways or hard surfaces like driveways or streets.

• Repair any plumbing leaks quickly and use water-saving shower heads, toilets, faucet aerators and other water-conserving appliances and devices.

• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or washing dishes in the sink.

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