The Red and Black

Issue date: 8/22/07 Section: Opinions

Watering worries

Water restrictions don't seem to apply when it comes to University lawns

An old cliché tells us the grass is always greener on the other side. Apparently, the same goes for University property during this summer's drought.

At least, that's what it looked like Monday morning when, according to a story published in today's Red & Black, students walking through central campus discovered sprinklers watering the well-manicured grass outside the Student Learning Center, in direct violation of the watering restrictions imposed by Athens-Clarke County on Aug. 11.

According to the ACC Web site, "[w]ater consumers shall be given written notice of a first violation. After having been given the firstnotice and upon a second violation, water consumers will have a surcharge of $400.00 added to their water bill." The site goes on to read that further violations possibly could lead to not only additional charges, but also termination of water service.

Furthermore, the story reports that the University receives no special treatment from ACC when it comes to the watering ban. What goes for your front lawn goes for the SLC's front lawn.

The message is clear: if flagrant acts of ban-flouting continue, the University will be without water. While this isn't likely to happen, the principle remains the same.

We all bear the burden of scorching temperatures and drought conditions, and we all assume a responsibility to use water efficiently, particularly at an enormous, influential institution like the University. After all, this is a nation of laws, not of rogue watering ban violators. To report University watering ban violations, contact the ACC Community Protection Division at 706-613-3790.

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Continued...

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