THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 14, 1994 TAG: 9406140335
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ESTHER DISKIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940614 LENGTH: Medium
The region is running short of water, and officials who oversee the supply have a message for everyone: Dry off, Hampton Roads. Change your living habits to conserve water.
{REST} ``We are trying to instill a water-fficiency ethic - we are not here to impose new water restrictions and new water rules,'' said Peg Nelson, public-information officer for the Norfolk Department of Utilities.
People need to conserve because water is in short supply all across Hampton Roads. Virginia Beach is in the toughest spot: Residents endure mandatory water restrictions and hope they'll someday drink water brought by the long-delayed Lake Gaston pipeline.
Other localities in the region aren't exactly water-logged. Chesapeake - a one-sixth partner in funding of the Gaston pipeline - could face a shortage in four years if population growth continues at the current rate. Suffolk officials expect demand to match the current supply in two or three years.
Newport News - which also supplies water to Hampton, Poquoson and parts of York County, James City County and Williamsburg - worries that a drought could send its area reeling. Newport News and James City County officials plan to dig new reservoirs.
The looming crisis has led Hampton Roads to an unusual cooperative effort: Fifteen cities and counties, along with the Navy, joined forces to steer citizens toward wise water usage. Hampton Roads WET - an acronym for Water Efficiency Team - will run advertisements and show up at festivals and schools with lessons on water conservation.
The team expects to spend $50,000 for a newspaper advertising campaign and get public service announcements on radio and television.
The team's main goal is to raise people's awareness of how they use water and to persuade them to make do with less. The average Hampton Roads resident uses 70 gallons of water a day. Seem like a lot? Here's where you use it:
Toilet: 5-7 gallons per flush
Faucets: 4 gallons per minute
Garden hose: 5-10 gallons per minute
Dishwasher: 15-17 gallons, full cycle
Washing machine: 30-60 gallons, full cycle.
{KEYWORDS} WATER CONSERVATION
by CNB