High and Dry

Polk County and city officials keep close eye on water use

Polk County Water usage
April: 67.73 million gallons
May: 78.81 million gallons
June: 75.14 million gallons
July: 72.03 million gallons
August: 78.59 million gallons
September: 74.07 million gallons.

Parched land, receding shorelines and shallow wells in the area have Polk County and Cedartown water officials monitoring water supply levels.

Cedartown's main water supply, the Big Spring, is running lower than normal and the city had to purchase water from the county last month. County springs are being monitored as well.

Outdoor watering restrictions have also been increased for Polk County and all of North Georgia to Level Four, banning almost all outdoor usage.

Donna Atkins, Cedartown water and sewer superintendent, has been closely monitoring the city's water supply at the Big Spring on Wissahickon Avenue.

"It's lower than normal," she said.

On her advisement, the city has been using the Hale well to help supply the city's water in recent months due to the lower overflow level at the Big Spring. That well is on the southeast side of town and was originally drilled by the city for emergency backup.

"We've also had to purchase some water from Polk County," Atkins said.

The county has supplied the city with 550,000 gallons, according to Dick Martin, Polk County Water Authority general manager.

He also explained that the county sells 2.3 million gallons per day to county residents. In light of that amount, he said, the amount sold to the city is not significant.

"Water is a good buy. It's dirt cheap and people take it for granted," Martin said.

Atkins said her main concern is having enough water readily available for fire safety.

Even with watering restrictions, Atkins said, that the city's usage has not gone down in recent months. Her records reflect April's water use at 66.14 million gallons, rising to 73.39 million gallons in August. September, however, did show a drop to 68.83 million gallons.

Polk County's water comes from three springs, according to Martin.

County water usage jumped from 67.73 million gallons in April to 78.59 million gallons in August, and dipping to 74.07 in September.

Rockmart also relies on well water.

A concern for community leaders is the potential impact of prolonged drought on industrial recruitment and also residential growth.

In July, Rockmart reached the 80 percent mark for water usage at its treatment plant - 1.4 million gallons of the permitted capacity of 2 million gallons.

To expand capacity, the city in July undertook two projects: drilling a new well on Beauregard Street, and development of a known water source, Goss Spring near Aragon.

The city is awaiting a state permit to further develop the well. The well and spring are expected to expand the city's capacity by about 1 million gallons per day of drinkable water.

From Cedartown Standard and Rockmart Journal