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Council hears water-well update and lengthy irrigation complaints as pond levels drop
Summary
Council was told a new culinary well and treatment plant approvals are near completion and heard extended discussion about heavy irrigation use that drained a pond; staff and council discussed enforcement limits and the need for better communication with irrigation shareholders.
Mount Pleasant staff told the council Aug. 26 that a recently drilled well should be online within days and that necessary treatment-plant submittals and tests are nearly finished, bringing the city closer to additional culinary water capacity.
That positive update was followed by extended concern from council and staff about irrigation overuse. Staff described heavy weekend watering that "drain[ed] the pond to the point" of forcing a shutoff and estimated flows in the range of 1,400 gallons per minute for portions of the system. Council members said such drawdowns strain the town's system and complicate pressure management when irrigation is restarted.
Why it matters: improved well and treatment capacity will increase available culinary water; however, unmanaged irrigation use during drought or low-flow periods can undermine system reliability and affect shareholders and residents.
Council and staff exchanged operational details and possible responses. Staff noted legal and operational constraints on shutting off certain shareholders who are partial shareholders of irrigation water; members proposed better signage, communication by the irrigation company, and public education to reduce overuse during restricted days. A council member asked whether watering limits are based on acreage and suggested working with the irrigation company to post per-share or per-acre allowances.
The council asked staff to continue monitoring the system and report back with concrete options for improved communication and enforcement. The well and treatment-plant items were described as near-ready for service and expected to come online shortly.
