The Banks County Water Department continues to struggle with water issues. For the past four to five days, areas of the county have experienced everything from low to no pressure. Some people have been without water intermittently. Others say they must wait after flushing a toilet in their home to allow water to build back up.
Banks County Commission Chair Charles Turk says the water department had been looking for a leak for the past three days, with crews searching in different areas 12 hours a day. A leak was found, but for another municipality, he says. So far, no leak has been found in the Banks County area.
Turk attributes the low water supply to several things.
He says the EPD instructed one local business to keep its grounds wet to reduce dust particles, which contributed to the shortage. In addition, agricultural farms and businesses are using large amounts of water because of the hot summer temperatures. But Turk says the most significant impact on the county’s water system is that one of the counties Banks buys water from is also running low.
“We are working on the problem and believe it will be resolved in the next few days,” he tells Now Habersham.
Frustrated water customers
Turk’s reassurance does little to ease the frustration water customers are feeling over their inability to get answers. Many have called and emailed Now Habersham to say they’ve been unable to get anyone at the water department to pick up the phone. Now Habersham experienced a similar problem when first reporting this story.
A resident on Millstone Drive emailed to report they got through to the Banks County Water Department and were told the county is running low on water.
The resident, who did not wish to be identified, said they questioned why notices had not been issued for residents to conserve water through alternating lawn watering days and limiting the use for filling up swimming pools. They said, driving around the community, they see people using water unnecessarily during what can now best be described in Banks County as a water shortage crisis.
