Published: July 09, 2008 10:36 am         

Area needs more sources of water

Last week in this space, we ratepayers received Mr. Jim Lowery’s praise for our water conservation in last year’s drought.

He stressed the need for more conservation. The overriding thought that comes to mind is the old phrase, “physician heal thyself.”

This is the same board member that has helped oversee a system that chronically loses more than 25 percent of its water! Talk about waste on a massive scale. And to this day, it is doubtful that the BWWB would have made meaningful attempts to stop this waste if the Birmingham News had not revealed this waste and mismanagement within the system.

Mr. Lowery also serves on a board that played politics and disregarded its rules to reappoint a failing president of the BWWB. Waste exists in writing rules as well, I guess.

As to the drought over the last few years, Mr. Lowery is wrong when he says it could not be predicted. To the contrary, the Great Creator has sent us many warnings with “mini droughts” over the past decades.

As a frequent user of our rivers and streams, I have personally experienced the ups and downs of the amounts of water in the river systems. Anyone in Mr. Lowery’s capacity that has not planned for worse case scenarios has virtually stolen his pay from the ratepayers. What is the purpose of board members if not to properly plan for the growing needs of the people they serve?

The real issue is more water resources combined with lack of waste of the existing water resources. We can all do things needed to cut waste, but the BWWB must find additional water storage in the form of new reservoirs.

In my 35 years in the area, I have heard numerous times about possible new lakes. Time is up — the BWWB must act now or the whole area will suffer.

This is quality of life and economic common sense. The same basic water sources exist now that were in place 40 years ago. With expanded population and more lawns, cars and industry requiring water, this is not rocket science.

We need new lakes and we are perfectly positioned to capture the many water resources in our area. It is not like we don’t have the water, we are surrounded by water.

We ratepayers must demand responsive action from those that govern these systems. Imagine the economic boon another lake like Smith Lake could be to the area.

Stop the excuses and, with deference to a certain sporting goods maker, “Just Do It.”

Russell Smith

Gardendale