Local News - September 2002

County recycles water

Restrictions on water use continue

By ALICE SMITH, LTN Staff Writer

September 6, 2002 - Lincoln County employees are using recycled water on the plants around some county buildings.

Since Level II mandatory water restrictions were imposed, county officials have been receiving calls from residents concerned about employees watering flowers outside the building.

And they want residents to know they are taking the restrictions seriously and abiding by the same rules regarding outside watering.

“We don’t want them to think we’re doing what we’re telling them not to,” said Amy Long, clerk to the Board of Commissioners.

County Horticulturist Tracy Jenkins said a lot of money has been put into the planters, so she felt something had to be done.

Through talks with the water department, employees devised a way to catch water when it is flushed out of county pipes.

The water department has to flush the lines to assure that chemicals are kept at the proper level, Jenkins said.

That’s the water the county is using — water that would have been wasted.

“We catch the water that would go into the ground,” Jenkins said.

That water is transferred in a 300 gallon tank from the site of the flushing to the flowers. Hooked up to the tank is a long hose, which is used to drench the thirsty plants.

Jenkins said workers are very conservative with the water.

Jenkins works with the water department’s schedule to determine when water is collected.

“It doesn’t take up too much time,” Jenkins said.

 Water is usually collected two to three times a week, she said, but it varies.

Thursday was the first time the plants had been watered since last week, Jenkins said, since the county was lucky enough to receive a good rain.

Workers water plants around the Citizens Center, the Courthouse, the tax appraisal office, the historical coordinator’s house, Gaston College and the Lincoln Economic Development Association office.

And Jenkins wants residents to know that the county flowers are just that — flowers for the entire county.

“They’re not just our planters, they’re everybody’s,” Jenkins said.

Lincoln County’s mandatory water restrictions were put in place Aug. 19. The water shortage was declared jointly with the City of Lincolnton.

Water customers are not allowed to do any outside watering, including watering lawns, flowers, trees and gardens. Washing vehicles and spraying down outside areas is also prohibited.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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