The town of White Lake last week began asking residents to be mindful of their water usage.

"We're in good shape right now," said Public Works Director Tim Frush. "We just don't want to have any problems in the future."

The town council discussed water conservation efforts at its July 9 meeting, but no action was taken.

"It may be something we have to look for in the future," said Mayor Goldston Womble.

All conservation efforts are currently voluntary, Frush said, but residents and visitors are being asked not to waste water.

Notices went out with July water bills, and letters went to customers using irrigation systems.

Weekends like July 4 and Memorial Day can see some strain put on the water supply, Frush said, even in years when the state isn't suffering drought conditions.

Towns and cities throughout the Cape Fear River Basin have enacted various water restrictions due to the current drought, which some state officials say is in its fourth year. Bladen County is currently around 12 inches below normal rainfall.

While White Lake uses wells rather than the river as a water supply, aquifers are being affected by the drought due to a lack of rain seeping into the ground and refreshing the aquifers.

White Lake's water system and wells aren't under undue pressure, Frush said.

"The wells aren't having to produce beyond their (safe) yield," he said, "but busy weekends can draw pretty hard on the water supply."

Frush said discussions are underway about installing a new well to augment the three currently in service. The fourth well would likely cost in excess of $100,000.

"We don't really have a water problem yet," Frush said. "We're just trying to prevent that from happening."

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