Water
 Watch
The Following is the Water Watch Page for the 2002 Drought
It Is Being Presented for Historical Reference
Portsmouth's Reservoir Levels are at 100% as of 12/16/02.
Water Restrictions
Eased.
We are at
Condition I (Voluntary Water Conservation) under a Water Conservation
Ordinance enacted by the City Council on Nov. 27, 2001.
2002 Drought Presentation to
Council on 8/13/02
15 Tips on Conserving Water
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December 2, 2002
The useful capacity of Portsmouth’s reservoirs remains at 92% as
of this morning. This percentage is a 0% change from last Monday,
November 25, 2002. Rainfall recorded at Lake Kilby for the last week
has been 0.00". Historical average rainfall for December is 3.32".
November rainfall recorded at Lake Kilby was 6.87". This was 3.87"
above the historical average rainfall in November of 3.00".
Historical median and useful capacities for December are 95% and
88%. Estimated days of storage remaining at current pumpage and
limited rainfall are 230. Emergency wells are off. Progress on the
Emergency Drought Relief Pipeline linking Norfolk’s Lake Prince to
Portsmouth’s Lake Meade is currently ahead of schedule. 6,500 feet
(or 1.23 miles) of the estimated 4.4-mile pipeline has been
installed.
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November 25, 2002
The useful capacity of Portsmouth’s reservoirs is at 92% as of
this morning. This percentage is a +8% change from last Monday,
November 18, 2002. Rainfall recorded at Lake Kilby for the period
November 18 - November 25, 2002 has been 0.13". These rains brought
the rainfall recorded at Kilby to 6.87" thus far in November. This
is 3.87" above the historical average rainfall in November of 3.00".
Historical median and useful capacities for November are 91% and
85%. Estimated days of storage remaining at current pumpage and
limited rainfall are 230. Emergency wells are off, with Lake Kilby,
Lake Meade and Lake Speight’s Run full. Lake Cohoon is still down
–2.2 feet.
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November 18, 2002
The useful capacity of Portsmouth’s reservoirs is at 84%
as of this morning. This percentage is a +17% change from
last Tuesday, November 12, 2002. Rainfall recorded at Lake Kilby for
the period November 11 - November 18, 2002 has been 4.72"
(0.02" on the 11th; 1.04" on the 12th; 0.60" on the
13th; 2.08" on the 16th; and 0.98" on the 17th. These
rains brought the rainfall recorded at Kilby to 6.74" thus far
in November. This is 3.74" above the historical average
rainfall in November of 3.00". Historical median and useful
capacities for November are 91% and 85%. Estimated days of storage
remaining at current pumpage and limited rainfall are 226. Emergency
wells have been cycled off with Lake Kilby, Lake Meade and Lake
Speight’s Run full. Lake Cohoon is still down –3.9 feet.
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November 12, 2002
The useful capacity of Portsmouth’s reservoirs is
at 67% as of this morning. This percentage is a +6% change from last
Monday, November 4, 2002. Rainfall recorded at Lake Kilby for the
period November 4 -November 11, 2002 has been 2.04" (0.26"
on the 4th; 0.54" on the 5th; 0.99" on the 6th; 0.23"
on the 10th; and 0.02" on the 11th. Heavy rainfall is being
received today. Historical average rainfall in November is
3.00". Historical median and useful capacities for November are
91% and 85%. Estimated days of storage remaining at current pumpage
and limited rainfall are 160. Emergency wells remain on. The City
Manager lifted the interim water surcharge (25% surcharge on all
usage above 600 cubic feet in a billing period) effective November
8, 2002. Mandatory restrictions remain in place.
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October 28, 2002
The useful capacity of Portsmouth’s reservoirs is
at 59% as of this morning. This percentage is –1% from last
Monday, October 21, 2002. Rainfall recorded at Lake Kilby (as of 8
AM this morning) for the period October 21-28 has been 0.66"
(0.62" on the 21st; 0.03" on the 22nd; and 0.01" on
the 25th; and a Trace –through 8 AM today). More rainfall is
expected today, tonight and tomorrow. Rainfall thus far in October
(through 8 AM this morning) has been 3.36" Vs. an historical
October average of 3.29". Historical median and average useful
reservoir capacities for October are 94% and 88%. Estimated days of
storage remaining with little rainfall and current pumpage are
approximately 138.
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October 21, 2002
The useful capacity of Portsmouth’s reservoirs is
at 60% this morning. This percentage is unchanged from last Monday,
October 14, 2002. Rainfall recorded at Lake Kilby (as of 8 AM this
morning) for the period October 14-21 has been 0.78"
(0.02" on the 15th; 0.26" on the 16th; and 0.50" on
the 21st –through 8 AM). Rainfall thus far in October has been
3.20" Vs. an historical October average of 3.29".
Historical median and average useful reservoir capacities for
October are 94% and 88%. Estimated days of storage remaining with
little rainfall and current pumpage are approximately 140.
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October 14, 2002
The useful capacity of Portsmouth's reservoirs is at
60% this morning. This is a +5% change since last Mondays 55% level.
2.42" of rainfall was received at Lake Kilby in the last week
(0.03" on the 10th; 2.34" on the 11th and 0.05" on
the 12th). Average historical rainfall recorded at Lake Kilby for
October is 3.29". Historical median and average useful
capacities for October are 94% and 88%. Estimated days of storage
remaining with little rainfall and current pumpage are approximately
140.
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October 7, 2002
The useful capacity of Portsmouth's reservoirs is at
55% this morning. This is a -3% change since last Monday. The last
time the level was at 55% was on August 21st. No rainfall has been
received at Lake Kilby since September 26th. September ended
with rainfall recorded at Lake Kilby of 3.77" which was 1"
below average. Average rainfall recorded at Lake Kilby for October
is 3.29". Historical median and average useful capacities
for October are 94% and 88%. Estimated days of storage
remaining with little rainfall and current pumpage is approximately
130.
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September 30, 2002
The useful capacity of Portsmouth's reservoirs
remains at 58% as of this morning. This is a 0% change since last
Monday's report. Rainfall recorded for the week at Lake Kilby was
0.79" (0.02" on the 25th and 0.77" on the 26th).
Total September rainfall recorded at Kilby has been 3.77" Vs.
the historical September average of 4.77". Thus, September ends
with below average (-1.00") rainfall as did August
(-2.59"). The historical median and average useful capacities
for September are 94% and 88%. With little rainfall and current
pumpage approximately 130 days of storage remain.
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September 23, 2002
The useful capacity of Portsmouth's reservoirs
stands at 58% as of this morning. This is a +2% change since last
Monday. Rainfall received since Monday morning was 2.13"
received on Monday evening. Total rainfall recorded at Lake Kilby
thus far is September has been 2.98". Historical average
rainfall recorded at Lake Kilby is 4.77". The historical median
and average useful capacities for September are 95% and 88%.
Estimated days of storage remaining are approximately 130 with
little rainfall and current demand.
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September 18, 2002
We received 2.13" of rain at Lake Kilby on
Monday. This pushed the useful capacity of the reservoirs up from
56% Monday to 59% today. Average rainfall for September recorded at
Lake Kilby is 4.77" and so far this September we've recorded
2.98".
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September 16, 2002
The useful capacity of Portsmouth's reservoirs is
56% this morning. This is a -1% change since last Monday. Rainfall
recorded at Lake Kilby for the week was 0.56" spread over 4
days (0.29" on the 10th; 0.05" on the 14th; 0.16" on
the 15th and 0.06" on the 16th). Rainfall recorded at Lake
Kilby thus far in September is 0.91". Average September
rainfall is 4.77". Historical median and average useful
reservoir capacities for September are 94% and 88%. Estimated days
of storage remaining at current pumpage and little rainfall is 130
days.
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September 9, 2002
The useful capacity of Portsmouth's reservoirs
remains at 57% this AM. This represents a 0.00% change since last
Tuesday, September 3, 2002. Rainfall recorded for the week at Lake
Kilby was 0.35". Average historical rainfall recorded at Lake
Kilby for September is 4.77". Historical median and average
useful capacities for September are 94% and 88%, respectively.
Approximately 130 days of capacity remain at current pumpage and
little rainfall.
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September 3, 2002
The useful capacity of Portsmouth's reservoirs is
57% as of this morning. This is a +3% since Monday, August 26, 2002.
Rainfall received at Lake Kilby for the week was 2.4"
(2.07" through August 31st and 0.33" on Monday, September
2nd). Total rainfall recorded at Lake Kilby for August was
2.99" which was 2.59" below the historical average August
rainfall of 5.58". Historical September rainfall is 4.77".
Historical medial and average useful capacities for September are
94% and 88%. Deep wells remain ON.
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August 26, 2002
With high temperatures and little rainfall, the drought gets
worse each day. Cloudless days with high temperatures increase
evaporation. Both evaporation and demand impact the reservoir
levels. The useful capacity in Portsmouth reservoirs stands at
54% this morning. This is a -2% change since last Monday.
Rainfall recorded at Lake Kilby for the week was 0.33".
Rainfall thus far in August in 0.92", well below the August
average of 5.58". Historical median and average reservoir
capacities for August are 93% and 90%. Approximately 130 days of
supply remain, but water quality problems may manifest themselves
as the supply dwindles and natural substances concentrate in the
remaining water.
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Do
your part to conserve our water supply! |
Wash only full loads of clothes and dishes!
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Use the wastebasket instead of the toilet for trash
such as facial tissues! |
Don't wash your car! |
Wise people take quick showers, not full tub baths! |
Don't wait to fix that drip! It can waste 25
gallons or more every day! |
 Wake
Up! Running the water while you shave or brush your
teeth wastes more water than one person drinks in a week! |
 Water
shrubs with a can or bucket instead of a hose and let your
lawn mellow to a nice brown! |
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