I'm looking for an artical on the water treatment in Charolette NC that appeared about a month ago. I checked M.H. board but could not find it. I don't see any place to run a search here or on G.N. board or at least I don't know how. If you can help, please E-mail. Thanks in advance.

-- Fred M Clem (redball@techcomm.net), December 23, 1999

Answers

Ask Old Git.

I'll flag her.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 23, 1999.

We're a bhitt too far from Charlotte for their problems to affect us, but I found this in the archives:

Y2K-wary hospital digs own water well - Charlotte, NC

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

http://www.charlotte.com/observer/business/pub/well1113.htm

Y2K-wary hospital digs own water well

By CLIFFORD GLICKMAN

Under the strategy "you can't be too careful," Carolinas Medical Center has dug two wells to serve as backups for its city water supply.

The hospital is one of the biggest users of water in the Charlotte area, using 300,000 gallons a day (per-capita use is about 70 gallons a day in North Carolina). It needs water for heating, air conditioning, laundry and medical procedures. Kidney dialysis, for example, requires a lot of water, hospital spokesman Scott White said.

The hospital isn't expecting any problems with the city water system when the new millennium kicks in. But it made sense to have a backup, White said.

"If there were any complications, Y2K or otherwise, we can get it," he said.

Presbyterian Hospital isn't digging any wells. It will rely, instead, on a Charlotte-Mecklenburg emergency management disaster plan that has been in effect for years, spokeswoman Judy Morganthall said.

If the water supply were disrupted by a hurricane, earthquake or delusional computer, a backup distribution plan would kick in. Hospitals would be a top priority, she said.

Presbyterian will take a few other Y2K precautions, such as sterilizing equipment several days in advance.

CMC drilled its first well in the spring near its Cannon Research Center. Unfortunately the flow coming out of the well was sufficient for emergency lawn-watering and not much more.

So in September, it built a second well not far from the front door. That one is working fine, White said.

Mecklenburg County has fewer wells than almost any other county in the Charlotte area. In 1995, it had 6,350 wells, half as many as Lincoln, a county with one-tenth as many people.

Mike Floyd, president of McCall Brothers, which has been digging wells since 1938, said he hasn't noticed any surge of well-digging for Y2K. At $3,000 to $4,000 for a typical home, "I think it's kind of an expensive fix."

-- mmmm (mmmm@mmmm.com), November 13, 1999

There's also this site, where you might e-mail your question (address at the site):

www.gocarolinas.com/news/charlotte/1999/...2k_townmtg.html

Charlotte hosts Y2K town meeting

Is the Charlotte community ready for Y2K? That question prompted some Charlotteans to attend a special meeting at the Government Center Tuesday night.

The program is called "Community Conversations." The meetings are taking place all over the country.

Those who came brought an appetite for information -- information on what could happen at midnight on Jan. 1 of the year 2000, and how they should prepare.

Believe it or not, there are people who are very confident about their own Y2K preparations. their concerns are about businesses and government agencies.

"I've had some plans I'm planning to do on my own," said participant Rochelle Vaughn. "I'm just wondering if the government's up to par and the banks and that sort of thing."

"The banks seem to be ready for it. I'm interested in what Duke Power has to say about it," said participant Jerry Stephens.

The program began with a video featuring representatives of Charlotte area banks, utilities, and local government agencies. All carried the message that they are ready to tackle any Y2K challenges, and will continue offering the services we depend on.

The man who chairs the President's Council on year 2000 conversion says the main challenge now is to work as a community.

"We turn the Y2K problem and challenge into the last crisis of the 20th century, not the first crisis of the 21st," Y2K Council Chairman John Koskinen said.

Only time will tell which it turns out to be.

One key message is for all of us to avoid extremes. On one end, to under-react and fail to plan as we should. On the other end, to over-react, and then Y2K problems could become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

We've all been hearing we should "be prepared" for the new year. As a way to help, WSOC-TV and the American Red Cross have put together a pamphlet titled "Are you ready for Y2K?" It answers questions on finances, gives you a checklist of which foods and other supplies you should have. The booklet has a listing of useful phone numbers of city services and utilities. You can call the Red Cross to get a free copy. That number is (704) 347-8439.

Sorry I can't be of more help. There are a couple of forumites in the Charlotte area--let's hope they see this thread.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), December 23, 1999.