News Release

Huntsville Utilities Officials Request Customers to Voluntarily Reduce Their Water Use

June 19, 2007

Huntsville Utilities officials today requested that water customers voluntarily reduce their water use.

“We have been running the water system in excess of 80% of capacity, and with the prospect of the drought conditions continuing, we feel it is prudent to start taking conservation efforts to protect the system,” stated utility spokesman Bill Yell. “A major mechanical failure in the system would cause a water shortage,” Yell added.

The utility also stated that they will soon need to reduce the amount of water that is pulled from the system's Lincoln and Dallas wells in north Huntsville by four million gallons a day, which is half of the wells daily output. This will require a greater dependence on the two Tennessee River water plants to supply the water needs of the community.

The Huntsville Utilities Water System established a record for the amount of water pumped in a single day last Thursday when 73.1 million gallons of water were pumped from the Utilities' water plants and wells. The previous record demand for water was 72.5 million gallons set on July 19, 2006.

Last week, the Alabama Office of Water Resources and Governor Riley declared a Drought Emergency for 19 north Alabama counties, which included Madison.

Huntsville Utilities also met today with several regional water systems to which the Utilities provides supplemental water service. Drought conditions and the status of each system were discussed.

Huntsville Utilities provides wholesale water service to the towns of New Hope and Triana as well as Redstone Arsenal. It provides supplemental water to the Madison County Water System and to the city of Madison.

“Any water system in north Alabama that is solely dependent on well water is struggling with the drought conditions. We see that with our own wells,” Yell said.

Customers are asked to take the following steps in this conservation effort:

-Reduce the amount of lawn watering.

-Water lawns during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest. This reduces loss from evaporation.

-Position sprinklers so that the water lands on the lawn and shrubs, not on the street, driveway or sidewalk.

-Regularly check sprinkler systems and timing devices to be sure they are operating properly.

-Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended.

-Check all hoses, connectors and spigots regularly and repair leaks.

Additional water use tips can be found on the Utilities' website.

Huntsville Utilities provides water service to over 80,000 customers in the city of Huntsville and provides wholesale water to several water agencies within Madison County.