Tuesday, June 28th 2011, 3:16 pm
Dana Hertneky, News 9
GOLDSBY, Oklahoma -- The city of Goldsby issued Tuesday an outdoor watering ban.
Residents and business owners are prohibited from watering their yards, grounds or outdoor landscaping. They also cannot wash down sidewalks, driveways or other parking areas. The watering ban also forbids washing building exteriors, and filling or refilling swimming pools, ponds or fountains. Those who don't comply could be fined.
Michael Isome spent thousands on his lawn and landscaping for his Goldsby home, and hundreds more in water to keep it alive. But this year it's still dry and now it will not be getting any relief from the sprinkler.
"I can handle losing some of the bushes, but a tree is going to be upsetting," said Isome.
Goldsby banned all door watering because city leaders were worried about the ability to battle wildfires. Leaders say the community's water system cannot handle supplying water for lawn and pool care, and also be prepared for any wildfires that might break out.
"We would like to say this is a warning, it's not. We're extremely critical with our water," said Greg Giltner, Goldsby's emergency management Director.
Giltner says the problem is with one of the city's two wells. Because of the heat and drought it's producing about half of what it did last year. The city hired an engineer to drill a new well but he recently backed out pushing the project back another 60 or 90 days. Giltner says the ban will remain in effect until they get some rain. Until then he's just asking for everyone's understanding.
"There's nothing I can do about it but do what they say," said Isome. "I'm not going to get fined for watering my yard."
The town does get some of their water from the city of Newcastle and engineers from that town are trying to help with the shortage.
Goldsby is in McClain County. McClain County has issued a burn ban that includes charcoal grilling and fireworks.
June 28th, 2011
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