The State: Northeast water customers tap into conservation
Filed under: Earth 911 - June 7, 2007
June 7, 2007
Some of Northeast Richland’s biggest users of city water are doing their part to conserve in light of recent restrictions.
Those restrictions remained in place as of earlier this week despite weekend rains that put a small dent in droughtlike conditions in the Columbia area.
Lack of rain, rapid residential and commercial development, an impeded water expansion project and bad timing on construction of the new Village at Sandhill water tank all have contributed to the Northeast’s water woes.
But some of the largest water users - Village at Sandhill, subdivisions and Richland 2 schools - are following or going beyond city guidelines.
At the Village at Sandhill, officials have enforced extra rules for the more than 300 acres of land at Clemson and Two Notch roads.
Scott McCarthy, director of property management, said the complex has taken several steps to conserve, from cutting down on water in toilets to stopping pressure-washing to watering only the newest plants.
“We’re running the risk that we might lose some flowers,” McCarthy said, “but we understand the restrictions.”
In Richland 2, it helps that nearly 23,000 students are out of school for summer. But the district - its water sources include wells and the municipalities of Columbia and Winnsboro - still has challenges.
Spring Valley High School, for example, normally uses well water for the football fields but has been using city water because of construction on site.
But in cases in which city water is used, the district is abiding by city restrictions on outdoor watering, said Elaine Delk, director of community relations.
“We follow their guidelines,” Delk said. “We’re not going to get in trouble with the city.”
Some of Northeast Richland’s well-landscaped subdivision entrances - Lake Carolina and The Summit, for example - rely on lake water for irrigation.
But roughly 86,000 residents within these and other Northeast Richland neighborhoods are feeling the biggest pinch from restrictions, which curb use of outside water to three times a week, with the exception of Friday.
Richland County Councilwoman Val Hutchinson said she has received “a ton of e-mails” from angry citizens about the water predicament. Residents also have called The State, complaining about dying plants.
“They pay these high prices for water, and they’re not getting the service that they are paying for,” Hutchinson said last week. “And they’re asking, ‘Why is the city spending the money - the profits from the water fees - on other city projects and not spending it on infrastructure?’”
City officials point to Richland County, saying it needs to put a cap on its own rapid development.
Some businesses that use a lot of water - such as Woodley’s Garden Center - have their own wells, so they’re not affected by public water issues. Car washes also tend to use recycled water, said John Dooley, Columbia’s utilities director.
According to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, there are thousands of wells in the area for residential and commercial properties.
Of the four Northeast parks within the Richland County Recreation Commission’s territory, only North Springs Park is not on a well. Killian Park is not irrigated, said Rodney Kinnett, who oversees park maintenance.
Last week, Kinnett voluntarily decided to stop watering the grass at North Springs.
“I didn’t want to be part of people having to boil water,” said Kinnett, referring to an earlier advisory imposed because of low water pressure in the Northeast.
Staff photographer Tracy Glantz and staff writer Dawn Hinshaw contributed. Reach Woodson at (803) 771-8692.
TIPS
It’s a good time to conserve water, and there are some easy ways to do it when it comes to lawn care. Some tips from earth911.org:
Don’t overwater your lawn. As a general rule, lawns only need watering every five to seven days in summer. A hearty rain eliminates the need for watering for as long as two weeks.
Don’t water your street, driveway or sidewalk. Position your sprinklers so that your water lands on the lawn and shrubs and not the paved areas.
Regularly check sprinkler systems and timing devices to be sure they are operating properly. Teach your family how to shut off automatic systems so they can turn them off when storms are approaching.
Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended. Your garden hose can pour out 600 gallons or more in only a few hours. Use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to turn the water off.
Raise your lawn mower blade to at least 3 inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than closely-clipped lawns.
Mulch to retain moisture in the soil. Mulching also helps control weeds that compete with plants for water.
Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year.
Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees. Check with your local nursery for advice.
WATER RESTRICTIONS
The watering schedule for Northeast Richland residents remains as follows:
Customers with addresses that end in even numbers are permitted to irrigate on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Customers with odd-numbered addresses can irrigate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Irrigation is allowed only between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.