Water Bills Skyrocketing for Small Scale Farmers Using Local Provider
By: Josh Berry
Updated: July 20, 2012
The heat is wreaking havoc everywhere and it's skyrocketing water bills for small scale farmers, using water from local providers because their wells aren't cutting it.
A lack of rain on a farm in Little Rock has left them with a dry crop of produce.
The Willow Springs Market Garden is still producing a few different crops, but this Summer has left them with withered up crops and a more than doubled water bill.
Even with the little bit of rain that fell on Robert Lashley's garden in Little Rock Thursday night, the dry soil can still sift through his fingers.
His garden crops are roasting in the sun, dying of thirst without enough water.
"The heat has lots of different adverse effects on the plants that we grow," Lashley said.
Even along irrigation lines tomatoes are struggling.
Lashley knows struggle however. He started his business six years ago, but he is a life-long gardner, in fact, his family grew out of necessity when we was younger. It wasn't always easy.
Now, he has a small time operation but his well still can't provide for all his needs. He has to use water from his local provider.
"It's about two and a half times more expensive for us."
The bill usually runs about $40 but it's been well over 100 this summer.
Drip irrigation lines line his gardens. That's the way the water department recommends watering on this scale, but it still hasn't made a dent.
"We've set a number of records," said CEO of Central Arkansas Water, Graham Rich.
Central Arkansas Water's customers in the area have used a record number of gallons of water this year, setting the daily record in June at 125 million gallons of water. On average, July has seen 104 million gallons used per day.
"You are going to see a higher than normal water bills, particularly during the latter part of June, July and August," Rich said.
Lashley sells his produce at the local farmers market and just needs to break even. He's doing that now, but if the drought continues, he's concerned it could cost his entire crop.
There are still a few products that he's taking to the North Little Rock Argenta and South Main Bernice Farmer's Markets.
Central Arkansas Water has a few tips and suggestions on how to better conserve water if you're a small scale farmer and they'll even send someone out to help evaluate and develop a proper plan.
Click here for more details.
A lack of rain on a farm in Little Rock has left them with a dry crop of produce.
The Willow Springs Market Garden is still producing a few different crops, but this Summer has left them with withered up crops and a more than doubled water bill.
Even with the little bit of rain that fell on Robert Lashley's garden in Little Rock Thursday night, the dry soil can still sift through his fingers.
His garden crops are roasting in the sun, dying of thirst without enough water.
"The heat has lots of different adverse effects on the plants that we grow," Lashley said.
Even along irrigation lines tomatoes are struggling.
Lashley knows struggle however. He started his business six years ago, but he is a life-long gardner, in fact, his family grew out of necessity when we was younger. It wasn't always easy.
Now, he has a small time operation but his well still can't provide for all his needs. He has to use water from his local provider.
"It's about two and a half times more expensive for us."
The bill usually runs about $40 but it's been well over 100 this summer.
Drip irrigation lines line his gardens. That's the way the water department recommends watering on this scale, but it still hasn't made a dent.
"We've set a number of records," said CEO of Central Arkansas Water, Graham Rich.
Central Arkansas Water's customers in the area have used a record number of gallons of water this year, setting the daily record in June at 125 million gallons of water. On average, July has seen 104 million gallons used per day.
"You are going to see a higher than normal water bills, particularly during the latter part of June, July and August," Rich said.
Lashley sells his produce at the local farmers market and just needs to break even. He's doing that now, but if the drought continues, he's concerned it could cost his entire crop.
There are still a few products that he's taking to the North Little Rock Argenta and South Main Bernice Farmer's Markets.
Central Arkansas Water has a few tips and suggestions on how to better conserve water if you're a small scale farmer and they'll even send someone out to help evaluate and develop a proper plan.
Click here for more details.
