(AUGUSTA, Kan.) — Seeing sprinklers watering yards has been a rare sight in Augusta the past several months. Homeowners have been limited to two days of lawn watering a week. That has taken a toll on grass and ornamental plants.
But as the dry weather continues, the level of Augusta Lake has not dramatically declined in recent days. People have been so good about limiting their water usage, 8 of the past 14 days the city hasn't had to rely on Augusta Lake for any water. It's been able to get by on its allotment from El Dorado Lake.
"It was a problem for taking care of lawns and things of that nature," Mayor Kristey Williams says. "If something would happen to our El Dorado water line then it would be a more serious situation."
While the restrictions on watering continue, the arrival of fall means that peak demand has passed. Now the city can focus on ensuring the future of the Augusta Lake. What's left of the lake will disappear later this fall when the city drains it to dredge the bottom and renovate the dam.
