Water Levels

Hagerstown The city reports the water supply, which is fed by the Potomac River, is low, but not at a critical level. Water Department Manager Gene Walzl is asking users to be conscientious about how they use water. Mount Aetna The spring and well that supply public water to the Mount Aetna area are at low levels. Water use restrictions that are in effect prohibit washing cars, sidewalks or houses and require residents to fix leaks and take quick showers. Sharpsburg, Highfield, Sandy Hook, Elk Ridge Water is supplied by Washington County.

THURMONT, Md. - Thurmont officials are enacting stricter water conservation measures today, closing car washes and limiting laundromat hours, a town official said. Thurmont's President and Board of Commissioners approved stricter measures at Tuesday's meeting, including a moratorium on building permits, Water Treatment Plant Superintendent Gary Dingle said Thursday. Typically it takes three months from the time from getting the building permit to using the water, Dingle said.

BOONSBORO - Ground water and reservoir levels remain sufficient in Boonsboro, but the town's manager said Monday night that the drought is so severe it will take five years before water levels throughout Washington County are back to normal. "This drought is worse than in 1999," Town Manager Jake Jones said. The Boonsboro Town Council discussed the drought at its Monday night meeting. The town has asked residents to voluntarily conserve water until the drought is over.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. - A ban on outside burning was in effect in two southern Franklin County townships and an effort was under way to make the ban countywide, Michael A. Christopher, administrator for Washington Township, said. Antrim Township's burn ban took effect at 8 a.m. Monday, said Bob Ebersole, chief of Greencastle, Pa.,'s Rescue Hose Co. No. 1. Washington Township's ban went into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Christopher said. The bans, which prohibit all outside fires, are needed because of the "unprecedented low water levels in reservoirs and wells," Christopher said.

Some areas monitoring water usage By ANDREA BROWN-HURLEY andreabh@herald-mail.com Several counties and towns in the Tri-State area have asked residents to conserve water - and may impose mandatory restrictions - because drought has depleted water supplies. The Tri-State area - including Washington County, Berkeley County, W.Va., and Franklin County, Pa. - has seen limited precipitation and is in the "drought watch" stage, said meteorologist Jim Wiesmueller of the National Weather Service in Sterling, Va. Precipitation levels are 4 to 5 inches below normal for the last three months, Wiesmueller said.

Potomac advisory Boating and other recreational activities on the upper Potomac River should be avoided through Monday because of hazardous water levels, the Maryland Natural Resources Police said. Water levels are hazardous for recreational use along the main stem of the Potomac from Cumberland and at Paw Paw, Springfield and Harpers Ferry, and the Shenandoah at Millville, because of recent rain, according to a natural resources police news release issued Friday. This warning doesn't apply to professionally guided river trips or teams of experienced white water paddlers.

24th annual C&O Canal Days By KATE COLEMAN / Staff Writer WILLIAMSPORT - The 24th annual C&O Canal Days will help celebrate the 150th anniversary of the completion of the C&O Canal. continued The weekend festivities will begin with music and dance Friday evening. There will be trolley rides, arts and crafts, more music, food, a pool party and a boatload of exhibits and demonstrations throughout the weekend. The centerpiece of the festivities is, of course, the C&O Canal.

Police log for Aug. 8 4 injured in 2-car collision in city At least four people were injured when two cars collided in the 1200 block of Potomac Avenue Monday evening, Hagerstown City Police said. The victims were taken to the Washington County Hospital and one was believed to have serious injuries, police said. The accident occurred around 10 p.m. Additional information was unavailable Monday evening. Boating advisory issued for Potomac Boating and other recreational activities on the upper Potomac River should be avoided today because of hazardous water levels caused by localized flash flooding, the Maryland Natural Resources Police said.

Residents who want to beat the heat this summer by taking a dip can once again find some relief at Greenbrier State Park lake, which has been closed for a year. cont. from front page The park's 42-acre lake will reopen Memorial Day weekend, Park Manager Dan Spedden said Wednesday. The man-made lake was closed to swimmers last summer because of low water levels. Park officials drained the lake in September 1998 to repair its gate valve, expecting rain and snow melt to replenish the lake by the summer of 1999.

The National Park Service will conduct required dam inspections for Potomac River Dams No. 4 and No. 5 on Wednesday, according to a park service press release. Water will be lowered behind the dams to permit the inspections by National Park Service and Bureau of Reclamation personnel. Water levels will be noticeably lower for 24 to 48 hours, according to the release. Periodic inspections are required by the National Park Service to ensure the proper maintenance of the dams, and the safety of people and property downstream.