Richwood enforcing Emergency Water Conservation due to drought

RICHWOOD, WV (WOWK) – The ongoing drought continues to cause problems for communities around the Mountain State, and now a Nicholas County community is enforcing an Emergency Water Conservation.

City officials say the City of Richwood has started using water from Summit Lake due to the lack of rain in the region. They say all residents need to take action to help conserve water, and provided a list of requirements and a list of recommendations.

For the list of requirements, city officials say Code Enforcement will be holding violators accountable. Those requirements include:

• No watering outside shrubbery, trees, grass plants or any other vegetation except from a watering can or container not exceeding three gallons
• No watering of Golf Course Fairways
• No washing of automobiles, trucks, trailers or any other mobile equipment.
• No washing of streets, driveways, parking lots, service stations or any other exterior services.
• No serving water in restaurants, only upon request.
• Turn off ornamental water use such as fountains and artificial waterfalls.
• Do not use water for flushing sewers or hydrants by municipalities or any public or private individual or entity except as deemed necessary in the interest of public health and safety.
• Do not use fire hydrants by fire companies for testing fire apparatus or for fire drills unless deemed necessary in the interest of public safety.
• Do not use fire hydrants by municipal road departments, contractors and all others, except for fighting fires.
• Do not fill swimming pools requiring more than five gallons of water or refill swimming pulls which were drained after the effective date.

While the list above is mandatory, the City is also recommending:

• Limiting laundry and dishwasher use
• Shortening shower times
• Turning off water when brushing your teeth or shaving
• Drinking bottled water
• Checking for leaks around your home.
• Limit how often you flush the toilet
• Don’t leave water running while washing dishes by hand.

On July 26, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice declared a State of Emergency in all 55 counties due to the drought. He extended it on Aug. 23 . Despite some occasional storms, many areas of the state have still seen little to no rain since, and folks across West Virginia have felt the impacts from agriculture to backyard plants and lawns .

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