Pocono News Section

Water Restrictions in Lock Haven

Water Restrictions in Lock Haven - Friday, September 7, 2007 at 4:34PM EST

Reported by: Lorena Beniquez
Friday, Sep 7, 2007 @04:34pm EST
LOCK HAVEN, CLINTON COUNTY - A drained dam coupled with a drought has left Lock Haven parched. City officials are asking residents to cut back on water use by twenty-five percent. In addition, they are banning watering lawns and washing cars.
City Engineer Jason Dershem said, "Lots of folks don't realize the situation that the city is in with the project and the drought that is going on and how important it is to conserve water at this time."
The Ohl Reservoir near Loganton had to release water because of needed repairs. Normally, the water is around 55 feet deep. Now it is only around 16 feet deep.
"The history of the dam is that it seeps through the dam itself. The water gets underneath the geology of the dam and flows through and allows it to come out the bottom which could eventually deteriorate the earthen dam," said Dershem.
While Ohl reservoir is a back up, it is needed since the main dam in McElhattan is down by nine feet.
Dersham said, "The lack of rain and water, over the summer, the main reservoir that supplies the city water is being depleted and generally we can compensate for that through this reservoir."
Construction on the dam will get underway in two weeks and can take up to five months to complete. After that, it will be up to Mother Nature to refill the reservoir