Tennessee Faces Limited Water Supply

Parts of the middle section of the United States has experienced great dryness this year. While some states were suffering from flooding, Tennessee suffers from drought.

All across the state of Tennessee, rainfall numbers are well below average. The rain that has come is not steady or in a great enough amount to penetrate through the hard dry ground.

We usually are well into winter before the hay bales begin coming out of the barn. However, this year our farm and many others in Tennessee can be seen with large hay bales sitting throughout the pasture. The lack of rain and the extreme temperatures took a toll on the growth of grass. We were left with no choice except to start feeding hay now. With the use of hay this early in the season, many of us wonder if we can make it through the winter feedings.

Feeding livestock is not the only problem that comes with a water shortage. Watering them is also trouble. Many farms, along with mine, can be seen with newly dugout ponds. Farmers are giving every effort to try to rejuvenate the dried up mud holes where their livestock could once quench their thirst.

My husband who spends his summer in landscape and lawn care has also been greatly affected by the lack of rain. When grass does not grow, lawns do not need to be mowed. In return his work slows down drastically.

We are one of the lucky farms that do not depend on crops. Some farmers have had to resort to disking up their crops completely. Te few combines that I have seen in the fields are mainly just stirring up dust.

The summer water activities were also cut short. Persons on city water were warned about using the water supply for swimming pools, water play, and plants. The bulk of water should be used after 2:00.

However, at least my home had water. My grandmother still uses a well. It did not take long for her well to run dry.

While the warnings in my water districts were limited to the radio and the newspaper, other Tennessee cities were forced to take even more drastic measures.

The town of Orme was left with no choice except to completely shut off its water system for three hours at a time. The small town is completely out of water.

Tennessee is no stranger to water restrictions in the summer. However, things have never been this dry.