U.S. Water News Online
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Birmingham Water Works has lifted the last of its conservation warnings that called for varying levels of restraint during this summer's drought.
The utility began the conservation requests at the start of summer, when water usage was up and rainfall was low. Conservation efforts included asking people to only water lawns twice weekly during the hottest days of the summer. No legal bans were imposed.
Water levels at area reservoirs, including those that store drinking water, were lowered due to light rainfall in May and June.
National Weather Service meteorologist Mark Rose said the summer wasn't extraordinarily dry because normal rainfall fell on the area during most of the summer months.
He said the summer's drought was actually caused by the heat and not a lack of rain. Both July and August were about three degrees hotter than usual, according to the Weather Service.
"People use more water when it's hotter, because their lawns and gardens need more water then," Rose told the Birmingham News.
Water use at the Birmingham Water Works has now dropped to about 100 million gallons a day from 140 million gallons on the driest days of the summer.
Lake Purdy and Inland Lake, the primary water sources for the Water Works, are both 70 percent or more full.
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