THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 7, 1994 TAG: 9407070504
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF HOOTEN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
Before most lawns could turn brown from lack of water, city officials on Wednesday lifted the mandatory water restrictions that had been in effect since Friday.
Residents once again are allowed to wash their cars, fill their pools, water their lawns and receive a glass of water in a restaurant without asking for it.
The restrictions were imposed when dry weather and southerly winds pushed brackish water from the Currituck Sound into the Northwest River - Chesapeake's primary water source - giving the water a salty taste. Residents on severely restricted sodium diets were advised to avoid drinking city water.
Officials said that heavy rainfall over the weekend and a shift in wind patterns had helped reduce chloride and sodium levels at the Northwest River Treatment Plant to an acceptable standard.
On Wednesday, the chloride content had leveled off at 160 milligrams per liter, well below the federal ``taste threshold'' of 250 milligrams per liter. The sodium level also was holding steady at about 80 milligrams per liter.
Although mandatory restrictions are no longer in effect, the city is encouraging residents to continue conserving water.
KEYWORDS: WATER by CNB