Ladywriter
October 17th, 2007, 09:29 AM
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21312383/
But little rain is in the forecast, and without it climatologists say the water source for more than 3 million people could run dry in just 90 days.That dire prediction has some towns considering more drastic measures than mere lawn-watering bans, including mandatory rationing that would penalize homeowners and businesses if they don’t reduce water usage.
“We’re way beyond limiting outdoor water use. We’re talking about indoor water use,” said Jeff Knight, an environmental engineer for the college town of Athens, 60 miles northeast of Atlanta, which is preparing a last-ditch rationing program as its reservoir dries up.
About 26 percent of the Southeast is covered by an “exceptional” drought — the National Weather Service’s (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21312383/#) worst drought category. The affected area extends like a dark cloud over most of Tennessee, Alabama and the northern half of Georgia, as well as parts of North and South Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia.
The only spots in the region not suffering from abnormally dry conditions are parts of southern and eastern Florida and southeast Georgia.
The Southeast Climate Consortium warns that a La Nina (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21312383/page/2/#) weather system is forming, which could bring drier and warmer weather for Florida and most parts of Alabama and Georgia.
“When we need to recharge our water system, this is what we don’t want,” said state climatologist David Stooksbury, who predicted that it will take months of above-average rainfall to recoup the losses.
suckage-_-;
But little rain is in the forecast, and without it climatologists say the water source for more than 3 million people could run dry in just 90 days.That dire prediction has some towns considering more drastic measures than mere lawn-watering bans, including mandatory rationing that would penalize homeowners and businesses if they don’t reduce water usage.
“We’re way beyond limiting outdoor water use. We’re talking about indoor water use,” said Jeff Knight, an environmental engineer for the college town of Athens, 60 miles northeast of Atlanta, which is preparing a last-ditch rationing program as its reservoir dries up.
About 26 percent of the Southeast is covered by an “exceptional” drought — the National Weather Service’s (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21312383/#) worst drought category. The affected area extends like a dark cloud over most of Tennessee, Alabama and the northern half of Georgia, as well as parts of North and South Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia.
The only spots in the region not suffering from abnormally dry conditions are parts of southern and eastern Florida and southeast Georgia.
The Southeast Climate Consortium warns that a La Nina (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21312383/page/2/#) weather system is forming, which could bring drier and warmer weather for Florida and most parts of Alabama and Georgia.
“When we need to recharge our water system, this is what we don’t want,” said state climatologist David Stooksbury, who predicted that it will take months of above-average rainfall to recoup the losses.
suckage-_-;