Durham May Face Water Crisis First

[WillyT]

<snip>

DURHAM - With central North Carolina suffering through the worst drought on record and a projected dry winter ahead, the Triangle is as close as it has ever been to severe restrictions limiting water use to hygiene and extinguishing fires.
Durham, with just 59 days left in its main water supply, could be on the front lines of this worst-case scenario.

Up to now, the prospect has been too far-fetched to entertain in detail, which is why there are few specifics in Durham ordinances about what would happen if the drought doesn't let up. Raleigh also lacks a set plan for an end-times-type drought.

Durham would ban industrial water use -- a potentially devastating economic blow. It would hit water-driven businesses such as car washes and laundries directly but also could force businesses to cut shifts or even lay off workers.

Residential water would be rationed, but it's unknown how that would be implemented. Limiting water service to certain hours a day or dropping water pressure are possibilities.

Vicki Westbrook, deputy director of Durham's water management department, said the city is doing all it can to stave off doomsday.

That includes spending more than $1 million -- exact figures haven't been tabulated -- to connect to alternative water sources, including Jordan Lake and a nearby quarry. Then there are the ever-tightening water restrictions; Durham residents and businesses are being asked to cut water use by 50 percent.

Some say that won't be enough in the long term.

<snip>

More: http://www.newsobserver.com/weather/drought/story/802642.html

Is it time to think about a national aqueduct system???

:shrug:

It would definitely put people to work.

[SoCalDem]

1. The people at the other end of the aqueduct may not agree

:evilgrin:

[Pavulon]

2. From head in the sand, to oh sh..

well you get it. Durham is down the road. They were slow to do anything about the problem. They did not stop water waste on lawns until the end of the summer.

Oddly the LACK of hurricanes and the rain they bring is the primary problem here. Much of our water comes from tropical systems.

Another long term problem is the increasing number of people moving here for jobs and the cities/state's lack of investment in upgraded infrastructure.

[NC_Nurse]

3. I saw that yesterday. I had no idea they were

down to less than 60 days. Seems like it hasn't been well publicized lately.
Scary.

[MADem]

4. Time to take the salt out of some of that seawater--and find a way to do it cheaply. NT

[Pavulon]

6. Happens every day on Naval Subs...

Westinghouse provides the power..

[MADem]

8. I know--and it works, too. The process could be wide scaled and made affordable. NT

[WillyT]

7. Yep... Three Quarters Of The World Is Covered By Water, Yet...

We still have drought.

Time for an Apollo Project on cheap, environmentally friendly desalination???

:shrug:

[AndyTiedye]

5. If Laundromats are Considered "Industrial" Water Use

Then if you don't own your own washing machine, no clean clothes for you?
Or do you have to send everything to the dry cleaners?

[xchrom]

9. and i'm moving there...

:eyes:

[Pavulon]

11. Move to Chapel Hill

you will be happier. Trust me. Durham has some serious crima and management issues.

http://www.cityrating.com/citycrime.asp?city=Chapel+Hill&state=NC

[xchrom]

12. i actually love durham -- and you only THINK you have crime --

i live in oakland.

[sam sarrha]

10. and there is no restrictions, no conservation.... i lived in a 5 year drought, we only flushed the

toilet when we took a crap. we had a squirt bottle of bleach to add when we urinated, we added bottles of water to the toilet tank to reduce flush water. $200 dollar fine if you used a water hose without a means of shutting it off at your end, water use outside 4 hrs a week, no lawns watered.

$250 fine if your water ran down the gutter

people here better wise up.. quick

[opihimoimoi]

13. There are 2 huge lakes nearby...what is the elevation diff? Pumps with 4 feet dia pipes feeding the

system might work...

Diesel pumps can easily get 12,000 gpm...cost is cheap...about 25K ea...pipes can be plastic...about 200 bucks per foot...2 or more pipes can be a short term solution....

As of now...got no choice but to implement short solution...no matter cost....Lake Jordan is close...even if tandom pumping is required....you will get water.....

Long term is to look into desalination from ocean....and used only during droughts....but costly....far mor than lake Jordan/etc.