Duke tightens water limits

Lake Wateree residents must stop using irrigation pumps as water shortage continutes

By MARJORIE RIDDLE - mriddle@thestate.com

Kershaw and Fairfield county residents who live along Lake Wateree must stop using their lake irrigation pumps Tuesday — or risk losing them — as part of new drought restrictions.

Duke Energy is putting restrictions in place on all 11 Catawba River basin lakes until the area’s lake levels return to normal, said spokeswoman Marilyn Lineberger.

While Lake Wateree in Kershaw County was only 0.6 feet lower than normal as of late last week, lakes upstream that feed it had more severe shortages, forcing restrictions area-wide, the utility says.

Residents who don’t comply face a first offense warning. Pumps could be cut off from the lake for a second offense.

Duke is considering stiffer penalties after that, including loss of dock access for up to five years, among other ideas, Lineberger said.

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