Sun, Jul 05 2009
|
Published November 29, 2007 07:25 pm - Cullman water customers are heading into the most restrictive water conservation plan in the area’s history. Phase 3 starts Saturday The Cullman Times By Brittany Woodby
BWOODBY@CULLMANTIMES.COM Cullman water customers are heading into the most restrictive water conservation plan in the area’s history. Phase 3 of the water-shortage countermeasure will begin Saturday and along with limited water use, the new phase carries hefty fines. On Wednesday, Cullman Mayor Donald Green said the city intended to stay out of Phase 3 for as long as possible. However, Cullman City Water Superintendent Junior Heaton said he met with the mayor Thursday morning and suggested the city move forward into the next phase. “That’s where the mayor stood until we had the opportunity to meet,” Heaton said. “We made our recommendation to go into Phase 3.” The city’s water supply, Lake Catoma, was measured Thursday at 21 feet below full pool. Heaton said the measurement is actually 20 feet below since the city added two feet to the dam in 2000. The new phase requires residents to continue with the previous conservation measures, including conserving 10 percent of the household’s average water use. If residents are found to not be in compliance with the restrictions, they will be given a written warning and a charge of 25 percent of their bill plus $1 for ever unit of water they use over the limit. If they still do not conserve water, they will be fined 40 percent of their water bill and the additional $1-per-unit charge. The third violation will get residents a $100 fine and a possible discontinuation of water service. More than three violations will result in offenders being cut off. Green said the water department will take into consideration each customer’s average monthly water use for the last year to determine a fair amount for restricted use. “For anyone who has not been on our system for a year, an average will be taken for the months of service on record. There will also be no penalty for those who are using the minimum number of units each month,” he said. Customer who believe they have been wrongly fined can appeal the charge to the city council if they request a hearing in writing to the water system within 15 days of the date of notification of the violation. Heaton said the amount of water used by each customer will be automatically tracked by the department’s billing software. Fines will be automatically added as well. “The system can pretty well maintain customers’ averages,” he said. Despite the software’s help, Heaton said the new restriction will be a lot of work for his department. 
More from the Local News section
Holly Pond man arrested on child sex abuse charges Holly Pond WWII veteran receives Bronze Star |
Print this story
Post to del.icio.us
 |
 |
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
 |
|
|
|
|
© 2007, The Cullman Times
300 4th Ave. SE; Cullman, AL 35055 Phone: (256) 734-2131; Fax: (256) 737-1006 Send us your news tips & comments. 
|
Popular Business directory links - Cullman Apartments | Cullman Attorneys | Cullman Auto Dealers | Cullman Auto Parts | Cullman Auto Repair | Cullman Beauty Salons | Cullman Car Rental | Cullman Dentists | Cullman Doctors | Cullman Flowers | Cullman Hotels | Cullman Insurance | Cullman Loans | Cullman Mortgages | Cullman Movers | Cullman Pizza | Cullman Realtors | Cullman Restaurants | Cullman Storage | Cullman Tax Preparation | Cullman Travel | Cullman Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
