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Water Runs Out In Tenn. Town

Drought forces Orme to borrow from nearby town's hydrant

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 2, 2007 7:07 PM CDT

(Newser) – If the Southeast drought’s effects on Orme, Tenn., are a sign of things to come, folks in Atlanta should start scheduling their showers. The rural home to 145 people has run completely dry, and what water gets trucked in can be used only between 6 and 9 pm. This means citizens have to rush to get supper made, clothes washed, and baths drawn, the AP reports.

Since the town's creek evaporated in August, the mayor has spent $8,000 of Orme's $13,000 annual budget to haul in water three times weekly. The feds have awarded a grant to build a 2½-mile pipe to the water supply in Bridgeport, Ala. "I can't tell you how many times I've turned on the faucet before remembering the water's been cut," said one resident.

Debbie Cash fills a plastic bottle with water for later use in her home in Orme, Tenn., Wed., Oct. 31, 2007. The drought has threatened the water supply of large cities as well as small, but the water... (Associated Press)

Tony Reames checks the filtering system for the water supply of Orme, Tenn., Wed., Oct. 31, 2007. The drought has threatened the water supply of large cities as well as small, but the water in Orme has... (Associated Press)

Tony Reames releases the water from the water tank to the 145 residents of Orme, Tenn., Wed., Oct. 31, 2007. The drought has threatened the water supply of large cities as well as small, but the water... (Associated Press)

Map locates Orme, Tenn.; 1c x 1 7/8 inches; 46.5 mm x 47.6 mm (Associated Press)

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Water Runs Out In Tenn. Town

Drought forces Orme to borrow from nearby town's hydrant

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Old Town Resurfaces as Drought Dries Ga. Lake

Cars, boats, and building scraps found under evaporating Lake Lenier

California Facing Driest Year on Record

Lack of snow not a problem, water manager says

Melting Peru Glaciers Threaten Water Crisis

Water is in decline 20 to 30 years earlier than expected

Death Toll Near 270 in Southern Storms

Tornado devastates Tuscaloosa

Scenes of the South's Devastation

Tuscaloosa looks something like a war zone

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Water Runs Out In Tenn. Town

Drought forces Orme to borrow from nearby town's hydrant

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Southeast • Atlanta • drought • water • Alabama • Tennessee • emergency funding • Orme

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Old Town Resurfaces as Drought Dries Ga. Lake

Cars, boats, and building scraps found under evaporating Lake Lenier

California Facing Driest Year on Record

Lack of snow not a problem, water manager says

Melting Peru Glaciers Threaten Water Crisis

Water is in decline 20 to 30 years earlier than expected

Death Toll Near 270 in Southern Storms

Tornado devastates Tuscaloosa

Scenes of the South's Devastation

Tuscaloosa looks something like a war zone

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Site

Newser By Users

Community

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What is Newser?