LELAND —- Residents in the greater Leland area are pointing out noticeable water pressure changes, with some reporting hoses that barely trickle or shower heads with pressure so low showering has become difficult.
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This is likely being caused by increased water demand from Brunswick Regional Water and Sewer H2GO, the largest water provider in northern Brunswick County, which has been higher than expected for this time of year. The increased demand on H2GO’s system, according to Utilities Director Russ Lane, is caused by early-morning lawn irrigation.
Morning lawn-watering
“Everybody’s irrigating their yards,” Lane said at H2GO’s board meeting Tuesday. H2GO’s system typically delivers about two million gallons a day in May, according to H2GO’s spokesperson. However this year, Lane said H2GO is already averaging 2.47 million gallons a day — up 23 percent.
“We normally didn’t see that until June, July,” Lane said at the Tuesday meeting. “It’s just going to get worse.”
Though low pressure is noticeable for the system’s customers, H2GO spokesperson Tyler Wittkofsky said the utility’s testing shows “adequate pressure consistently and constantly throughout the system.”
Throughout the system, Wittkofsky said necessary flows and pressure required to meet peak demand is still being provided. Pressures are still averaging at 65 pounds-per-square-inch (PSI). However, it’s the potential for fluctuations, sometimes ranging between 45 PSI and 75 psi, that customers in the region are likely noticing.
“There is nothing within our system that would be causing extreme decreases in PSI, as we are continually and diligently ensuring the preservation of our system,” according to Wittkofsky.
Water pressure depends on a resident’s location within the utility’s system, the elevation in water tanks, and usage in the area. Faulty pressure-reducing valves could also be contributing to fluctuating water pressure, Wittkofsky added.
Brunswick County and Leland — also water suppliers in the region — did not immediately provide comment on the recent concerns raised.
Send tips and comments to Johanna Ferebee at johanna@localvoicemedia.com
