As the sun-baked shores of Cullman's Lake Catoma, seen from Ala. Highway 157, continue to grow with the receding water level this week, city officials reassured area residents their water supply is safe.

The more than 600-acre lake serves as the primary drinking water source for the city and much of the county. But stemming from drought and consumption, it has dropped 8 feet this summer, leaving several feet of once submerged shoreline exposed and parched.

With rainfall for the year holding a dismal 12 inches below normal, the scene is reminiscent of the 1999 drought in which Lake Catoma dropped approximately 26 feet.

Witnesses then said they could see the exposed tops of Christmas trees, which fisherman had anchored to the bottom to attract bass.

Whatever the case then, Cullman City Water Plant operator Chad Smith reported Wednesday the drop is normal for this time of summer.

"It's nothing to be concerned about, especially since we added that extra 2 feet in 2000," he said.

According to Smith, after the last drought, city planners added 2 feet of depth to the lake.

With 12 to 15 million gallons consumed each day, varied sources say that gives the area anywhere from 30 to 90 extra days of water supply.

Even if a drought worse than the last one hits, Cullman Mayor Don Green said the utilities board recently updated its emergency water conservation plan as a yearly requirement from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

If initiated, he said, that plan calls for voluntary conservation at first, eventually moving to mandatory rationing if the level become low enough.

"We really don't foresee that happening though," he said. "It's actually quite good for this time of year."

While the water supply seems safe for now, city planners agree Lake Catoma's drinking water days are numbered.

At a meeting earlier this year, an independent consultant hired by the city told a group of water system managers from across the county Catoma has approximately 20 years before its capacity is exceeded.

That estimate was based on the average annual increase in consumption, mostly due to rising industry in the area.

Several plans for additional water in Cullman have been suggested since then. Primarily, they include a pipeline to the Tennessee River or a new dam at Duck River.

To date, the Duck River project has been stymied by court proceedings filed by ecologists fearing environmental damage to the area.

In addition, while local officials recently prevented the passing of a state law barring Cullman from drawing water from the Tennessee River, little has been confirmed about either proposal since then.

Lake Catoma currently provides drinking water for the Cullman City Water System, the Cullman County Water System and a portion of the Vinemont-Anon-West Point Water System.