9.15.03 M.U.D. lifts water alert The Metropolitan Utilities District lifted the voluntary Level 1 Water Alert September 15. The alert went into effect July 26 because lack of rain in the metro area resulted in a higher than normal summer demand for outdoor water use. The water alert asked customer-owners to voluntarily reduce outdoor water use by watering lawns on an odd/even schedule. "The projected demand for the remaining weeks of the month have returned to normal due to the precipitation we received in the past week," said General Manager Tom Wurtz. "We appreciate the cooperation of our customers in reducing their outdoor water use the past seven weeks." Wurtz estimates voluntary cutbacks by customers reduced demand for water by about 10 million to 15 million gallons a day. This allowed us to maintain water pressure, especially in western Douglas and Sarpy Counties where it has been a problem. Even though the alert has been lifted, Wurtz said M.U.D. encourages customers to conserve water. "We plan to bring the Platte West Water Treatment Plant on line in 2008, but even that plan assumes conservation practices will be in place. We intend to encourage conservation whether we are pumping 100 million gallons a day or 200 million," he said. "Water is a precious resource we share with municipal, agricultural and environmental interests."

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