Franklin asks for water conservation

FRANKLIN-Back-to-back thunderstorms late Sunday gave the area some needed water, but the Franklin Borough Council is still asking town residents to be careful not to use too much of it. The council last week unanimously approved voluntary water restrictions that ask borough residents to water their lawns and wash their cars on an odd/even basis, depending on their house numbers. If the summer's dry weather continues, borough officials said the restrictions could become mandatory. "It'll be mandatory when the state says so," said Mayor Doug Kistle last week. "We can also mandate it if we have to. Right now, we're making it voluntary." Houses with even house numbers are asked to water lawns and wash cars only on even-numbered days, while houses with odd numbers are asked to restrict their usage to add-numbered days. Such measures are usually preludes to stronger measures, which take effect if droughts become severe, as was the case in the summer of 1980. If the restrictions become mandatory, non-essential water usage such as washing vehicles and watering lawns will be prohibited, with violators subject to fines. Even under voluntary restrictions, officials say it's a good idea to take shorter showers, use washing machines only at full load and repair leaky faucets and plumbing fixtures. "I think people understand that there is a crisis," said borough attorney Richard Clark. "People will understand and will only need direction from government as how to comply." "Franklin does a pretty good job once we put the restrictions on," Kistle added. "The residents have always worked with us in the past on water restrictions." The voluntary restrictions are expected to remain in effect until Sept. 30, "unless we cancel it or mandatory restrictions come down from the state," said borough administrator Richard R. Wolak.