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by DAVID MANN

City leaders will decide in January if mandatory water rationing will be necessary in Bardstown, following a report by city engineer George Greenwell. The city of Bardstown’s primary water supply, Sympson Lake, is still down — as it has been for the better part of the last five months. Bardstown Mayor Dixie Hibbs said they will continue to monitor the situation and agreed to make a decision on mandatory water conservation by Jan. 15.

“At that point we have to determine which way we have to go,” she said. “There is no reason to panic at this point.”

Though the lake level is close to three feet lower than “full,” November and December are typically wet months for the region, she said. Additionally, water demand is lower in the fall and winter when residents aren’t as concerned with watering their lawns and gardens. The city is currently under voluntary water conservation.

“We asked for voluntary because we were treating and delivering so much more than we anticipated,” Hibbs said.

The water supply in Nelson County has been a concern of late for both city and county leaders. Earlier this fall, Nelson Fiscal Court announced it wanted to work together with the city of Bardstown to solve the issue. Citing recent water supply concerns and recent calls for voluntarily conservation, Nelson Fiscal Court announced its intention to find a new water source in September. The city supplies about 90 percent of Nelson County’s water. The city also pumps water from the Beech Fork River.

Right now, the Beech Fork supplies the city with about 3 million gallons per day.