Sheldon Water Watch In Effect

A Water Watch is a voluntary water conservation status. It allows us to get the word out that conservation is necessary and reduces the likelihood of going to mandatory water restrictions.

Water usage has skyrocketed to record levels the last few days. It does not appear that there is any relief in sight. Our wells have been keeping up but, we have been in drought conditions for the last year and our shallow wells are starting to lose capacity. With the rivers and ponds at very low levels the shallow wells are not recharging at a high rate. We have had to turn up the flow rate on the deep wells. The reason our Public Works Teams recommends starting conservation efforts now is that we are now to a point where if we would lose Well #15 (our newest and largest producer) we would be in a position to require mandatory restrictions immediately because the needed deep well flow rate has exceeded the pumping capacity of Well #9 (our second deep well).  This is not a decision we take lightly as we are in the business to sell water and restrictions will decrease revenue, but we are to the point that it is the responsible thing to do, and we would much rather start with a voluntary water watch than jump straight to mandatory restrictions.