Water Shortages in Paris

If you live in Paris, Arkansas, you can’t wash your car, but that could change soon. It’s hot and dry outside and Paris officials are worried about their water supply. To fix the problem they’re cutting back on usage. Paris officials are taking precautionary steps to ensure the town doesn’t run out of water. Residents can’t wash their cars or their driveways. They also can’t water their lawns and plants. If they do, they’ll get hit with a $1,000 fine. Jim O’Bar, the Paris Utilities Director, explains, "If my plant can’t make the amount of water that people are wanting, it drains our tanks, then we get air in our lines and then we cant give people any kind of water." Residents say complying with the new rules is frustrating. One citizen, John Paul Vaughn, says, "It has been kind of difficult to make it where we can keep everything all fresh and nice and green." Another resident, Sharon Gattis, says, "A lot of animals that I normally give baths to, theyre not getting them." O’Bar is working hard to prevent this problem in the future. He says, "Weve hired engineers and weve actually got some money that were going to re-do our plant, and were going to double the size of the water plant." Mayor Elsken says what Paris really needs is, "A good rain and cooler weather, and were going to get it." Officials say they hope to end the mandatory conservation by this Tuesday.