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Town weighs fixes after golf-course lake drawdown forces nightly tanker watering
Summary
Council members and staff discussed an emergency watering plan for the Black Mountain golf course after the course's lake was drawn down. Staff said tanker trucks have delivered 18'to'0 loads nightly while the council considers a backup pump and vendor assessment.
The Black Mountain Town Council discussed an emergency plan on Monday to protect the town's golf-course greens after the course's lake was unexpectedly drawn down.
The town's operations presenter said staff have been using tanker trucks to water the greens "averaging somewhere from 18 to 20 loads a night," totaling roughly 32,000'to'6,000 gallons nightly, and described visible crud forming on the turf. He said the immediate tactic is continued tanker watering while the town pursues short- and long-term options.
Council members and staff described two parallel responses: continue contracted tanker operations and pursue a vendor-installed backup pumping system. The presenter estimated that a separate, dedicated pump to isolate potable water could cost in the tens of thousands of dollars and would take roughly 60'to—0 days to plan and install once parts and engineering decisions are made.
Several council members raised volunteer and homeowner help as a short-term idea. One council member reported homeowners had agreed to hook hoses to assist watering, but staff advised the council that tapping private service lines is unlikely to provide sufficient pressure and could cause more harm than good. "If it's voluntary, then I have no issue," a council member said; the town's operations presenter cautioned that professionals recommended continuing tanker service for now.
Councilors also discussed the legal and policy limits of emergency fee waivers. One councilor said the town could not selectively waive fees for individuals; another member said donating water without reimbursement would be acceptable but that fee forgiveness was not appropriate.
Officials said they expected a vendor from Greenville to meet with town staff within days to assess pump options and timeline; one council member said the vendor meeting could produce clearer options by the end of the week. In the near term, staff urged continuing the tanker program and monitoring weather forecasts: "we're looking at the people who are running [the] golf course and managing the greens," the presenter said, and "that is the way to proceed at the moment."
The council did not adopt any formal motion at the meeting. Staff were asked to return with a cost estimate for a backup pumping solution and vendor timeline, and to keep the council updated on tanker operations and any short-term volunteer arrangements.
