(11/1) As a potentially prolonged period of ‘abnormally dry’ weather appears to be creeping across Western Maryland and throughout Frederick County, Northwestern Carroll County, and in Adams County, Emmitsburg has become the first municipality in the News-Journal's coverage area to declare mandatory water restrictions.

The regional water tables have been sustaining a triple threat: diminishing, existing on-hand water reserves; lack of sufficient rain to replenish existing water supplies; and now, an encroaching period of dry weather … an event frequently followed by drought.

In Frederick County, concerns over a potentially developing drought situation led the Emmitsburg commissioners to vote at their October meeting, in a 4-1 decision - to immediately implement Phase II (mandated) water restrictions. Commissioner Joe Ritz voted against the move, stating he was optimistic that the dry conditions would change for the better. Voluntary Phase I had previously been declared at the July meeting.

Town Manager Cathy Willets stated at the town meeting, "I met with the water and sewer superintendent today and we went over the numbers, and it's not getting any better, and there's no significant rain in the future … We need long, soaking rains. We need a foot of snow that's going to melt slowly into the earth … things like that… to replenish."

Willets said initiating mandatory water restrictions is precautionary because it doesn't look like the region is going to have much rain. "The water table is already low," Willets said, adding, "If we don't try to do something now and it continues to drop, you can't get the water back."

Phase Two water restrictions, which are mandatory, entail prohibitions on the general outdoor use of water, including filling or replenishing swimming pools, car washing, and washing housing, sidewalks or other public ways, or watering lawns, gardens or shrubs. Additionally, restaurants and taverns may not serve water unless it is specifically requested by a patron.

Penalties for non-compliance for non-large volume users include a warning for a first offense, a $50 fine for a second offense, and a $75 fine per offense for subsequent violations.

Penalties for non-compliance for large-volume users - those that use 10,000 gallons of water or more per day - include a warning for a first offense, and, for subsequent violations, a fine equal to two-times the cost of the water over a set, allowable amount, not to exceed $1,000 per day.

"Obviously, we don't want to fine anybody," Willets stated, adding, " We just want to get the word out, and the whole goal is just to restrict the water usage so we can save our water,"

Regarding Taneytown, City Manager Jim Wieprecht told the News-Journal, "We've enacted our Phase One level of water restrictions, which are voluntary - basically just asking residents to make efforts to conserve water both indoors and out. Our well-levels have remained pretty stable since we enacted the voluntary restrictions, so we haven't moved to mandatory restrictions at this point."

Currently, Thurmont has no water restrictions in place.