I read this this morning. I don't have a problem with them limiting us from watering lawns, etc. if it gets too low. However, the part that bothers me is:

According to a release from Maryville public information officer Pam Arnett, the city “will contact as many car washing facilities as are known” to let operators know what mandatory conservation will mean.

I don't think they should cut a person's business. Just my $.02.

Craig Thomas
blog.craigdthomas.com

I don't think they should cut a person's business.

When the business was started, the operator should have been aware of regulations concerning low resources. I'm going to step out on a limb here and state that washing cars is a nonessential service.

Have you made the connection that overuse of the water resource, for something that doesn't help the greater good as in this case, will harm your river.

Many localities require car washes to reuse water. I doubt anywhere in good ole east TN does, though.

In case you don't already know:

Little River

I had planned to use gray water to irrigate my lawn, but Tennessee will not allow it without a septic tank.

Golf courses in FL use reclaimed waste water (or they used to anyway).

There is one under the floor of the bar at a place I used to work. Nothing beats being on your knees with your head at nearly floor level as you reach as low as you can to dredge up the water so you can scrape off the funk.

In the late 40's my dad built the house where I grew up. He had a separate line for the gray water but he installed a large home-made grease trap with the effluent going into a French drain. My brother and I had the task of cleaning that thing every five years or so. We had the nasty habit (literally) of getting into muck fights during this process and Mom would attack us with the garden hose before we were allowed back in the house for a shower.

I sold that house a few years ago and the new owner has had the gray water re-routed into the septic tank.

Ah, I miss the old days.

Wearybottom Associates