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LCSA Seeks Mandatory Water Restrictions

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by section84, Oct 2, 2007.

  1. Mr Rogers

    Mr Rogers Active Member

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    :confused:Right, that is a different kinda water! :confused:

    The HOA should be role models for their residents, even if not under the water ban. At this point, we need to make sure that there is water to drink this winter.
     
  2. Mr Rogers

    Mr Rogers Active Member

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    So, if I get your "gist"...you think that we should take out 50% of the already low flow of the Potomac, so you can continue to water your lawn and wash your car? As far as I can see, these are the only sacrifices that Loudoun County has asked us to make.

    FYI - The Potomac's mean flow for this time of year is 2500 cubic feet per second (cfps). The current flow is in the 900's. Even after the emergency was declared, it has been as low as 500.
    http://waterdata.usgs.gov/md/nwis/u...format=gif_default&period=31&site_no=01646500
    Ill take a brown lawn (which is only dormant, not dead) and some water to drink and bathe with in February over a lush, green lawn.
     
  3. Mr Rogers

    Mr Rogers Active Member

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    Let it go and water in the spring!!!:mad:
     
  4. Mr Rogers

    Mr Rogers Active Member

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    Hopefully the Broadlands HOA shares that mindset!!!:mad:
     
  5. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    It's not the HOA doing the watering. It's Van Metre. The only watering the HOA does is the grounds immediately around the Nature Center. We reduced the watering schedule significantly and will be shutting it down completely in the next week or so.
     
  6. Mr Rogers

    Mr Rogers Active Member

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    Has the HOA encouraged Van Meter to reduce or stop watering?
     
  7. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

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    Oh, what a wonderful world it would be if the HOA had any influence over Van Metre.
     
  8. Mr Rogers

    Mr Rogers Active Member

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    What about at the Board Meetings? Ever considered using the 2nd Amendment to keep VM in line?
    "The sound of of a shotgun shell going into its chamber is very motivating". - Malcolm X
     
  9. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

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    Give it a go, big guy. Let me know how it works out for you.
     
  10. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    Mr Rogers-
    Van Metre got spotlighted on NBC News about their watering. Their response:
    It's our wells and we'll keep on watering.
    I welcome you to attend a Board meeting and change their minds. I'll be sitting in the front row with a bowl of popcorn.......
     
  11. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    This may be better suited for the habitat corner but given the visitors reading this thread I felt compelled to post here. Please continue to keep your bird baths full; birdbaths, water bins, pans, whatever it is you use for birds/wildlife. The wetland surrounding our community is completely dry. I fill my 2 qt ground birdbath twice a day due to the increase of creatures coming to drink. If you think our situation is becoming dire, pity the wildlife having to travel farther in search of water. You may be surprised at what shows up to drink. I have birds, raccoons, possum, and the other evening at dusk a fox showed up.

    Please feel free to move this to the habitat corner if necessary. Thank you.
     
  12. Eric the 1/2 troll

    Eric the 1/2 troll New Member

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    Over use of wells by Van Metre (while it is their right) has a dramatic and lasting negative effect on everyone. During a drought, the only water available to keep our stream alive is the groundwater discharge component (as opposed to the surficial runoff component). The drawing of water from the bedrock system in Loudoun intercepts the water that is available to discharge to our streams during a drought period. The flow of Catoctin Creek and Goose Creek is monitored and the data is not pretty. Here is the graph for Catoctin Creek (drains half of Western Loudoun):

    http://va.water.usgs.gov/duration_plots/daily/dp01638480.htm

    Notice the drop in flow. The current flow is 0.15 cfs. The record low flow is 0.09 cfs. We are not far from the record low flow. This is far from a record drought.

    The data from Catoctin Creek is a great tool as it drains a relatively uniform hydrogeologic unit and the metering station is right at the point of confluence with the Potomac (kind of like the end of a funnel). The conclusion is that increased development and associated groundwater losses are pulling out water at such a rate that the base flow of the stream can not be sustained during a drought. To water during this epriod of drought just exacerbates the condition as the evaporative loss rate are extremely high right now. Van Metre is doing us a great disservice by wasting this resource. Is it their "right"? Sure it is. Is it right? Most definitely not.
     
  13. nutria

    nutria New Member

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    I reported my first one this morning. I'm sad to have to do that, but I'm also furious that people can be so selfish.
     
  14. koajeri

    koajeri New Member

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    I have 3 neighbors who have all watered their lawns and washed their cars in the last 3 days. It makes me furious that they are so selfish. We are all suffering. I've gone back and forth about reporting them. One of them waters their lawn very early in the morning. You can't miss it because it's the only green lawn on the street. Another neighbor leaves the hose on for hours while they're out running errands. The next time I see it, I'm definitely going to report it, it's just aggravating the heck out of me.
     
  15. dbrow

    dbrow Member

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    I saw a report on Channel 9 tonight about people reporting their neighbors in Loudoun County. Apparently, a lot of people are as frustrated as you. Don't feel so bad about it... they are the ones breaking the rules, not you!

    And those green lawns are really starting to stick out.
     
  16. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Yes, I saw the same segment.. and was appalled at the inferences they made that anyone with a green lawn must be breaking the law.

    Our lawn is very green - but we aren't watering it, and almost never do anyways. I'm still having to cut the grass about once a week.
     
  17. kris

    kris New Member

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    Can I get some landscaping lessons from you on how to maintain a lawn.
     
  18. latka

    latka Active Member

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    The restrictions have only been in place a little over a week. With the weather cooling off, it may take a while for the lawns to turn yellow. RELAX!!!!
     
  19. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Hire someone to do it :)

    We have ProLawn take care of the yard once a month. Sometimes my wife waters the yard when its extreme (I think she did on/off a few times in the summer when the front got burned pretty bad).

    I think its a combination of

    - lawn care
    - orientation and shade from trees/house

    Since hiring the lawn company a few years ago, all we ever do to the yard is cut it. No more weeding, seeding, etc.

    now if I could only get that magic to work under the deck :(
     
  20. Mr Rogers

    Mr Rogers Active Member

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    What is the relationship of Van Metre with the Broadlands, and the community? Do they own all of the land?

    It sounds like it is time for the LCSA to assert themselves about groundwater rights!
     

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