Rain helps ease tight water supply

Rain during the last two weeks likely helped avert the implementation of voluntary water conservation measures in Sparta, as officials last week said the town's water supply has been stretched recently.

The town leaders indicated that they would be less tolerant of water losses at local industries — some of which occur on a regular basis — while water is in short supply.

The discussion was part of the Sparta Town Council meeting July 2. Town Manager Tom Douglas said, "We had stretched our water supply just as much as it was comfortable to stretch it." Three weeks ago, the town was pumping all its wells except one and pumping that one on a half-time basis. During the last few days of June, he added, the town lost 1 million gallons of water due to a leak at the old pipe factory.

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