With Oak Ridge North's Water Well No. 2 nearing its pumping capacity following the failure of Water Well No. 3, the city council has decided to borrow water from the South Montgomery County Municipal Utility District and implement mandatory watering restrictions for its residents.

The Oak Ridge North City Council approved the decision to borrow water from the South Montgomery County MUD at a council meeting June 24. The MUD agreed to allow the city to use its water, which will be transported through a valve and a series of interconnected pipelines. However, the interconnect will only use water from the MUD whenever the city's pump cannot keep up with the pressure provided by its water users, city officials said.

A representative of the MUD said the MUD has not decided how Oak Ridge North could repay for the water, but it may be paid back through the city's own water supply once Well No. 3 goes back online.

Although the water from the MUD will not affect residents' water rates, Economic Development Coordinator Susan Cates said, the council did agree to implement Stage 2 mandatory watering restrictions on residents, which could charge violators of the watering policies up to $2,000 per violation. The council also agreed to charge water users $5 per 1,000 gallons for every 1,000 gallons used monthly over 10,000 gallons. Cates said the average family uses about 10,000 gallons per month.

"If you use more than 10,000 gallons a month, your water bill is going to go up substantially," Mayor Jim Kuykendall said. "If you're wasting water, you're going to have to pay for it until this crisis is over."

Mandatory restrictions state residents with even-numbered addresses must water on Sundays and Thursdays and odd-numbered addresses must water on Saturdays and Wednesdays. No watering can be done from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on watering days, although hose watering is allowed at any time. The fines will not be implemented until July 1, Cates said.

Construction on Water Well No. 3 could take up to 90 days to complete. The council agreed to solicit bids for the estimated $265,000 project, with bids coming back to the council for selection as early as the next council meeting July 8. The construction contract would be 60 days upon commencement of work, Cates said, with the earliest possible completion date sometime in mid-August.

The Oak Ridge North City Council also approved the city's comprehensive plan June 24 after more than a year of gathering data, public hearings and committee meetings. The plan was approved 3-1 with Councilman Al Stahl voting against due to some residential concerns regarding the realignment of Robinson Road.

City Manager Vicky Rudy said many residents were concerned with how their property would be zoned during the realignment process, but assured the council the city would seek residential input during any rezoning.

"We're going to to be working zoning to death the next several months," Rudy said. "With the comprehensive plan [approved], zoning can now go forward."

For more information, go the city's website at www.oakridgenorth.com.