Water conservation plans win approval from county

Mandatory code red water restrictions have continued throughout winter in towns, such as Westminster, the county seat, and county officials expect this summer to be even worse than last, when the county?s drought conditions came close to reaching record worsts.

“We would like to make water conservation a normal practice, not something we have to do when it?s mandatory,” said Tom Devilbiss, the county?s head of resource management.

Water could become more expensive during droughts as one way to restructure rates to encourage conservation, saidMarge Wolf, a member of the county?s Environmental Advisory Council and Water Resource Conservation Council, which compiled the report over the past year.

Rates would be reviewed each year to determine any ways to encourage greater conservation, according to the plan, which would apply to all eight towns in Carroll as well the rest of the county.

Plants, trees and shrubs would need to be reconsidered in Carroll, as well, so they can survive the intense droughts the county is expecting, according to the 18-page report.

“It doesn?t do anyone any good to sell me plants that are going to die,” Wolf said.

The report proposed a Voluntary Water Conservation Stage for the county from April until October to limit car washes, sprinklers and other unnecessary water use.

Three reservoirs have for years been the county?s long-term solution to its water woes, but the Maryland Department of the Environment has not cooperated, citing the lengthy planning and permitting process in creating a reservoir.

The report predicts the county?s population will increase about 50 percent between 1990 and 2015, straining the already limited water supply.

Commissioners voted Thursday to move forward with the plan, which Devilbiss said will next be taken to each town for approval.

“This water issue is not going away,” Wolf said. “It?s going to be with usfor a long time.”

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