
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, June 29, 1993                   TAG: 9306290098
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VERONA                                LENGTH: Short

WATER OFFICIALS PLEAD FOR PUBLIC CONSERVATION

Many residents of southwest Augusta County are ignoring requests to stop watering lawns and washing cars during a shortage, so officials are being more emphatic in calls for voluntary conservation.

"We're trying to avoid mandatory restrictions," said Ken Fanfoni, operations director for the county's Public Service Authority.

Customers have been complaining of low water pressure and "some are verging on no water," said authority Treasurer Letitia Leadbetter. "Keeping up with demand has become harder and harder."

Despite the first call for conservation two weeks ago, water consumption has increased since then because it hasn't rained much and people continue to water their lawns when they come home from work, she said.

If consumption doesn't drop, mandatory restrictions will have to be considered "so that people will have water to drink in their houses," she said.

The water system for the South River district is supplied by a reservoir, two wells and the Staunton water system. But the reservoir tap has been closed for several months because of repairs and the Public Service Authority can't pump any more water from Staunton because the pipe size is limited. "We're pushing our wells to the limit and taking as much from the city of Staunton as they can deliver," Fanfoni said.

The South River district includes some residents of Waynesboro, areas just south of Staunton, Stuarts Draft, Fishersville, Greenville and Sherando.

Fanfoni urged customers to use washing machines and dishwashers in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the peak demand period - from 5 to 9 p.m.

by CNB