By Staff
School employees thank church
Editor,
On behalf of Hartselle City Schools, I would like to thank Bro. Norton and the congregation of Hartselle Christian Church for the wonderful lunch that was prepared and served to all of our system's employees.
Preparing a meal for over 300 individuals is a huge undertaking that required weeks of planning and days of preparation. Our system is very fortunate to have great community support, which is so evident when individuals, groups, organizations and businesses are called upon for help.
I would also like to thank the churches in our area for their support with the time that was set aside in prayer for our students and staff. We are blessed to have such a great school system, and it is the result of our community working together for the betterment of our children.
Debbie Smith
Hartselle Junior High School
We should all
preserve water
Editor:
The Cullman-Morgan Water District is in favor of damming Duck River in Cullman County. I am strongly against it. Let us examine this problem.
We are using less water now than we thought we would when the dam was first proposed. Our rates have been increased to compensate for the shortfall. Hanceville has pulled out of the system, creating an even greater surplus, and we have Lake George and Smith Lake available for sources, as they haven't been tapped yet. My fears are that this is more about real estate and all issues come down to money.
However, I understand the district's need to ensure future water supplies in case Cullman/Morgan Counties grow, which is likely. I am offering solutions that are practical and will supply water for the future.
First, practice conservation. Make sure there are no leaks. Assess fines for leaking irrigation sprinkler systems and other wasteful uses of water. Insist new developments use xeriscaping – landscaping that requires little water. Remind consumers of conservation tips. Encourage business to come up with water- saving processes for their products and designs.
Second, require all new construction to have rain barrels and cistern systems installed at construction. The rain barrels provide water for landscaping and cisterns for the inside needs of the homes and businesses (with a filtration system it would also be cleaner and preferred for drinking). Have it sized to meet the projected needs of each home or facility. The Water District would still be tapped to water during drought conditions. Take that $52 million for the dam construction and use it to retrofit existing homes and businesses for rain barrels and cisterns, in a program similar to the heat pump incentives from the TVA.
The Water District can still make money by either selling the equipment for the materials, or inspection fees once they are complete (someone on the district will have to get extra expertise on the systems), and there is always the sewage cleaning process. The Water District doesn't have to cooperate; there is enough information that opportunistic contractors could develop businesses that could completely bypass the Water District.
This water will be cleaner of toxins than the lake waters because it will be from rainfall. The only pollutants it will have will be what dissolved in the water as it rains and the impurities from the roofs of the buildings.
Our water woes are only going to increase with increasing population. Now is the time to act before "All the rivers be dammed!"
For more information go to: Low Impact Development (LID) Urban Design Tools or do a search on rain barrels and cisterns on the web.
Susan Wells
Cullman