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LO-1 Wells go deep for- drought's eiiects ` While those using well water are not subject to water restrictions, excessive use now may cause the well to run dry months later. ! BY DAVE HART Staff Writer HILLSBOROUGH — The mandatory water conservation measures that all the local gov- ernments have implemented in recent weeks apply only to those properties that draw their water from public systems such as Orange Water and Sewer Authority. If you get your water from a well, rather than from a public supply, you're free to use your water however and whenever you wish. While washing the car or irrigating the lawn on Sunday can result in a fine for The Chapel Hill News anyone on OWASA water, it's perfectly lawful for people on well water to crank up the sprinkler, if they wish, and let it run all day. Lawful but unwise, local water resource officials say. "I expect to see some wells in Orange County go dry this fall," said Ron Holdway, the county's environmental health director, "We haven't had a rash of them yet; so far, it's been no worse than any other summer. But drought effects on wells don't usually show up for weeks or months. So, if the drought con- tinues, the real problems will come later in the year and beyond." Orange County Environmen- tal Health Services issued an advisory last week urging well owners to begin water conserva- tion steps immediately. Well owners, county officials said, should refrain from water- "—A�. E°e,, e-7 9_t%et, Photo courtesy of OWASA Low water levels at OWASKs Cane Creek Reservior are visible sign that water tables also are falling. ing lawns and washing cars, take shorter showers and repair any leaks in their plumbing sys- tems. "Water conservation is always a good measure, but it's especially important now," Holdway said. "Because the effects are delayed with wells, See DROUGHT, Page A3