Water bans, fire danger advisory after recent lack of rain
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Major concern in Wisconsin without rain Video by 620wtmj.com
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PEWAUKEE - While the heat has now passed, there's still a major weather concern in Wisconsin.
The lack of rain is growing more serious by the day, especially in places like Waukesha and Washington Counties.
Washington Co. has placed a fire danger advisory in effect.
Emergency management officials and the Washington County Fire Chiefs Association are jointly asking people not to burn outdoors, use fireworks or any other incendiary device.
An emergency water ban has been put into place by officials in Pewaukee after they noticed a drop in lake levels and wells, something many don't ever remember happening. As the sun continues to beat down, Donna Baldwin-Haut's garden in Pewaukee is turning from beautiful to brown.
"It's been dry for quite a long time, but it makes it challenging to maintain a garden," Baldwin-Haut says.
The lack of sun has triggered the watering ban on lawns, plants and nearly everything else by hand.
"Our wells had gone from pumping 700 and something thousand gallons to 1.4 million," Village Trustee Cathy Baumann says. "When you use double the amount of water, you have to take drastic measures."
The measures are not only for the environment, but also for the safety of the village.
"The neighbors house catches on fire, I'd rather have brown grass and be able to put their fire out, than have green grass and watch their house burn down," Baumann says.
Pewaukee Police will help enforce the ban. Restrictions are likely coming in neighboring communities, too.
"With the ban we do have to hand water and I have to be a little more selective about what plants are important," Baldwin-Haut says.
If there is rain, Pewaukee Village Trustees could reverse the ban immediately.
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