Tennessee announces some water restrictions from drought

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is asking residents to limit their water usage in almost a dozen water districts in the Sequatchie Valley and Cumberland Plateau areas because of the drought.

The call is to temporarily restrict non-essential water use as the utilities have trouble meeting customer demands.

These are the utilities affected:

• Fall Creek Falls Utility District – Van Buren County
• Pikeville Water System – Bledsoe County
• Dunlap Water System – Sequatchie County
• Cagel-Fredonia Utility District – Sequatchie County
• TN American Sequatchie Valley Water System – Marion County
• Griffith Creek Utility District – Marion County
• Big Creek Utility District – Grundy County
• Tracy City Water System – Grundy County
• Monteagle Public Utility Board – Grundy County
• Sewanee Utility District – Franklin County

TDEC is asking customers to limit the following water activities:

• watering of lawns, gardens, trees, shrubs, etc.;
• watering of athletic fields;
• washing sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, patios, or any other hard surfaces except for sanitary or safety purposes;
• non-commercial and commercial washing of motor vehicles, trailers or boats;
• use of water for dust control or construction compaction; or
• firefighter training.

The restrictions last until the drought has eased, and that won’t be anytime soon.

“The National Weather service has indicated that precipitation in these areas is as much as 16 inches below normal. No significant precipitation is predicted for the remainder of 2016. The lack of rainfall has resulted in declining surface water and ground water levels across the region.”

You can learn more on conserving water at http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/ or https://www3.epa.gov/region1/eco/drinkwater/water_conservation_residents.html or contact your local utility provider.