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High Water Usage Results in Low Pressure and Could Affect Firefighting

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Department of Waterworks (DOW) is asking customers to stop watering their lawn through Sunday, July 24, in the wake of this week’s high heat and lack of rain.

Previously, DOW requested customers to perform lawn watering on an every other day schedule. However, water consumption across central Indiana has continued to increase steadily since last week. Indianapolis Water, the region’s largest drinking water utility, pumped 215 million gallons (MGD) of water yesterday, compared with an average of 140 million gallons a day. Consumption is on track to top 220+ million gallons today.

“We are asking our customers to curtail lawn-watering activities in order to maintain adequate water pressure for our customers and firefighting activities,” said Matthew Klein, executive director of the Indianapolis Department of Waterworks, owner of Indianapolis Water.

Due to increased demand, some Indianapolis Water customers may already notice low water pressure. The utility will reevaluate this request to cease all lawn watering on Monday, and may return to the odd/even schedule if the excessive demand subsides.

Customers are also asked to voluntarily practice the following wise water use guidelines at all times:

· Repair or replace leaking water fixtures;
· Run water appliances, such as clothes washers and dishwashers, when they are full;
· Turn off the water while brushing teeth or shaving;
· Use a higher lawnmower setting to provide natural ground shade and promote the soil’s water retention;
· Wash cars with a bucket of soapy water and use a nozzle to stop the flow of water from the hose between rinsing;

· Cover swimming pools to reduce evaporation; and
· Retrofit low-performance fixtures with high-performance WaterSense-labeled fixtures.

The Department of Waterworks owns and manages Indianapolis Water, which serves nearly one million people in central Indiana, and contracts the system’s operation to Veolia Water Indianapolis.

More than 1,500 athletes will compete for national title at Eagle Creek Park

INDIANAPOLIS –Eagle Creek Park in partnership with the Indianapolis Rowing Center will host the 2011 U.S. Rowing Club National Championships July 13-17. The five-day regatta will feature more than 1,500 athletes competing for national titles at the junior, intermediate and senior levels in 70 events.

Due to the size of this event, the Eagle Creek Park Beach and Marina will be closed for public use Wednesday, July 13, through Sunday, July 17. Spectators are encouraged to visit the beach and marina to view the races. Eagle Creek Park’s concessions, grounds and other facilities, including the 42nd street boat ramp, will remain open and available to the public during these dates. For more information, please call Eagle Creek Park Senior Manager Carrie Kasnicka at (317) 327-7148.

The Indianapolis Rowing Center is a non-profit organization located in Eagle Creek Park that introduces the sport of rowing to youth and adults and provides development opportunities. The Eagle Creek Park Reservoir has hosted some of the most prestigious regattas held in the United States. In addition to hosting numerous U.S. Rowing National Championship regattas and several NCAA championship competitions, Eagle Creek hosted the rowing events for the 1987 Pan American Games and the 1994 World Rowing Championships, the only rowing world championships ever held on U.S. soil.

U.S. Rowing is a nonprofit, membership organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the national governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States. With more than 16,000 individuals and 1,100 organizations, U. S. Rowing serves and promotes the sport on all levels of competition.

To learn about the Indianapolis Rowing Center, visit www.indyrowing.org. For more information about facilities, programs and events at Eagle Creek Park, visit www.indyparks.org.