By Brittany Woodby

BWOODBY@CULLMANTIMES.COM

Residents could soon be free of water-use restrictions as recent rainfalls have filled Lake Catoma for the first time in nearly a year.

“I think we can safely say when the water runs over the spillway, we will take off the conservation measures established by ordinance,” Cullman Mayor Donald Green said.

Three weeks ago the city downgraded its water conservation order from Phase III to Phase II. Under Phase II, residents are required to conserve water but are not fined for using too much as they were during Phase III.

The downgrade was especially good news for Becky Pollard, manager of Sports Fit health center in Vinemont. The gym closed its pool in December to meet the required 10-percent water usage reduction but was able to open it back up to members Monday.

“(The city) said the fine is lifted and we could open the pool,” Pollard said. “The members are very, very happy, especially the ones who are using it.”

Pollard said closing the pool was harmful to the business, which is the only gym facility in the area to offer an indoor swimming pool for recreational, exercise and therapy purposes. She said the pool was essential for senior members who took water aerobics.

“We’ve lost some members and are hoping people will come back,” she said. “We did classes in the meantime like chair aerobics that these people could do to try to keep them active until we could open the pool back up.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, the city’s reservoir was only 1.5 feet below its full-pool level of 472 feet mean sea level. Cullman Utilities Board Chairman Wells Turner said the city received almost average rainfall for the first few months of the year with 4.49 inches of rain falling so far in March.

“I live at Lake Catoma and I can see (the water) pushing up to edge of the bank,” Turner said. “On Jan. 29 we were at 25 feet below full pool. ... It’s amazing how quick it comes back.”

Turner said the lake’s quick recovery is even more proof the city should continue to push for building a reservoir on Duck River.

“That’s what our engineers have always told us,” he said.

Turner said engineers with CH2M Hill have prepared a formal drought plan outlining specific measures the utilities board should follow in the event of another water emergency and outlines several ways to procure water for residents at various stages of drought.

“Lake Catoma has served us well,” Green said. “It’s been a good source even with this 100-year drought. It served everybody who needed water and still has a measure of safety.”

However, Green added just because Lake Catoma is full for the time being, the city is still working to secure additional water for the future.

“We’ll continue to move forward with Duck River,” he said. “This started in the 90s and we’ve been pursuing it ever since. ... After looking at the county’s source (the Tennessee River) and recommendations it seems pretty obvious Duck River is still the best source.”

Green said the city’s plan provides a quality, long-term supply that will last into the next century.

“We won’t have to worry about pharmaceuticals and chemicals in the water like we would with the Tennessee River,” he said. “All the things point to it (as the best option). That doesn’t mean to dump the Tennessee River thing, but to keep it as a second alternate.”

Turner and Green both said while the utilities board and the city are pressing on with securing more water for residents, they hope residents will continue to save water.

“We still want to emphasize to our residents to continue to think about conservation,” Green said. “Several people have come to me and said, ‘This has been a positive thing. I didn’t realize I could reduce water consumption as much as I have.’ After all, we are still in the drought model and could be facing another shortage.”

“From the Utilities Board side, we’d like to thank people for their great conservation efforts,” Turner said. “Our kids have responded well. They’ve come up with some really good plans to conserve water, and I think most of us learned ways to reduce use.”