A Ration Of Drips…
We now know how at least one North Carolina community is going to deal with the situation if the water runs out—and it’s a rather frightening.
Durham has been on the edge of running out of water from its principal drinking supplies like Lake Michie since the middle of last summer.
It’s currently gotten a bit of a reprieve recently, because the December rains have boosted its available supply leaving about about 118 days of water left at current usage levels….
But that city’s water demand has been creeping upwards lately after a small drop in consumption.
With little rainfall predicted this winter to recharge the groundwater, those who chart these things say our reservoirs and lakes could dry up much faster this year as soon as the weather gets hot.
If all of Durham’s available sources go dry they have a plan “B”.
Here’s the plan:
They shut down the water system. Period.
The only time they’ll turn it on is to fight a fire—or for some other life threatening health issue.
And what do Durham’s water customers do for drinking?
The city’s solution: Buy bottled water.
Tom Voorhees-the Deputy city manager says the city’s PRETTY confident that retail outlets will be able to keep a steady supply of bottled water on hand.
But no one’s sure.
And what do you think will happen? Will folks only buy what they need? or will they hoard?
And you can bet the price of bottled water will balloon WAY BEYOND what we currently pay…
Supply and demand, you know…
At a recent town meeting at Duke University, Voorhees was asked WHO will insure there’s enough bottled water to go around IF the city shuts off the taps.
He said that was a job for FEMA.
Does anyone remember what a great job FEMA did dealing with Hurricane Katrina?
Durham’s municipal leaders have been roundly criticized by some in days past for waiting too long to control consumption in the early days of the drought—and for acting too slowly once the situation got serious.
They assure us Durham won’t run out of water.
And no NFL team can ever have a perfect season.
—Steve
Link here to the story Steve covered today on NBC-17
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I absolutely LOVE the comment about no NFL team will ever have a perfect season!!!!! Thanks for the props to the Pats!!! Can’t wait till Saturday at 8