With Storms Coming, Water Reclamation District Asks Residents To Minimize Water Use
(CBS) -- Severe storms are in the forecast in the next 24 hours, and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is asking people to prepare by using less.
It's really not an uncommon request from the Water Reclamation District, but Executive Director David St. Pierre says it's been months since they've had to issue such a request.
He says you could help them out -- and possibly prevent flooding where you live -- by putting off that load of laundry or dishwasher, especially in areas where one combined sewer system handles both stormwater and sanitary sewage from homes and businesses.
"Those pipes are only so big," he said.
St. Pierre says the severity of storms, and the number of big storms have both increased in recent years, citing major storms in 2008, 2011 and 2013.