In the Legals section of The [Maryville] Daily Times, the South Blount Utility District Water has a post regarding their continuing drinking water problems. Higher than acceptable lead levels are being reported, 0.015mg/L versus 0.036mg/L. High levels of lead were reported for the South Blount Utilitiy District in 2006 and 2008.

As in the past, the blame is put on homes built prior to 1987, which may contain lead solder joints on plumbing.

This problem has been lingering for at least three years. The lead levels do appear to be going down, but they are still twice the actionable level. Why can't South Blount Utility District provide acceptable drinking water? Are other water districts having this problem? Don't they have homes built prior to 1987?

According to the South Blount Utility District, here are some important safeguards regarding drinking water:

• Do not drink of cook with water from the hot water tap.
• Do not boil the water in an attempt to remove contaminants. Lead remains in the water and cannot be boiled away.
• Run the water for 15-30 seconds before drinking or using to flush standing water from pipes.

For more information, contact South Blount Utility District, 865-982-3560.

The 2009 Maryville Farmers' Market opens Saturday, May 2.

It is open from 9AM until the farmers' sell out.

The Market is located in downtown Maryvile, on Church Ave, next to the CBBC bank.

Mission of the Maryville Farmers' Market:
To promote the sale of local farm products;
To improve the freshness, taste, and nutritional value of produce available;
To encourage more social contact between consumer and farmer;
To educate the public as to the agricultural traditions of East Tennessee;
And to celebrate and help preserve family farms.

The Raven Society Lily Benefit Event

For the donation of your choice (minimum $1.50 per lily suggested) you can choose from thousands of hardy, gorgeous lilies that last for decades with little or no care! Your donations will support The Raven Society which works to preserve and promote the rural, natural and historic beauty of Blount County through education and political action.

When: June 14 and 21, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm

Where: 1530 McIlvaine Drive, Maryville, TN (only 3 minutes from Blount Hospital)

Go west past Blount Memorial Hospital on 321. Turn right on Tuckaleechee at Smith's Mortuary. Drive up the hill then turn right on Locha Poka Drive .3 mile straight up into the driveway at the top of the hill. The lilies are in the back field.

The Maryville Farmers' Market starts up again the first Saturday in May.

May 3, 2008
Opens at 9 AM and closes when the produce is gone, usually around noon or 1 PM.

Location: Church Street near CBBC Bank.

There is plenty of parking.

Get ready! Check it out!

Fresh produce is on its way.

Blount County Public Library

Three seniors from Maryville College working on a community awareness grant will be joined by a representative from TVA to give an inspiring and educational presentation on where our electricity comes from, how to use less, why you should, and how the Green Power program works. The talk is free and begins at 6pm.

One of the students wrote about their efforts for Hellbender Press.

Assuming I'm reading our water bill correctly (according to Alcoa it's listed in units of 100 gallons, so 48 equals 4800 gallons), here's our consumption:

• Jul: 13,200 gal. (4800 household, 8400 irrigation)
• Aug: 31,000 gal. (3600 household, 27,400 irrigation)
• Sep: 13,800 gal. (4000 household, 9800 irrigation)

I had no idea watering the lawn used so much water. And our sprinklers have been shut off most of the summer due to voluntary and mandatory restrictions. (A year ago in July we used 43,400 gal. for irrigation.)

Our household consumption looks high, too, for only two people. But we work from home so we are here most of the time.

Anyway, how does yours compare? I'm going to start looking for more ways to conserve. I may start by paving the lawn or putting in Astroturf.

There was this weird substance dropping from the sky yesterday afternoon. It was wet and cool. The plants seemed to reach up and embrace the substance. What a pleasure.

According to The Maryville Daily Times and the National Weather Service, 1.91 inches of the substance accumulated at the Knoxville airport. Living about a mile away from the airport, as the crow flies, we only received 1/4 inch. We are still happy and our plants are happy.

What is it, though, with the people that continue to water their yards every day? Do they not read the paper? Do they not care about the community?

As reported in the Maryville Daily Times, Maryville and Alcoa are asking that citizens voluntarily curb water usage because of the low level of Little River due to drought conditions and high temperatures.
...
The best way to reduce water use is to cease irrigation of plants, trees and landscaping, according to a press release from Maryville public information officer Pam Arnett.
...
For now, water conservation is still voluntary.

However, if there is no rainfall in the next few days, Phase II could be ordered soon, Arnett said.

Having lived in Florida for many years, we are used to having water shortage issues. I don't believe the citizens of TN are all that familiar with the concept.

There are some people who, I am not sure which, are oblivious, just don't care, or believe their lawns are more important than the community. Please don't be one of these kinds of people. Heed the warning, help out, conserve water. Don't water your lawn every day or even every other day!