N.C. town cuts off Georgia contractor's water

CONCORD, N.C. - Facing a severe drought, the city on Wednesday turned off the water spigot to a developer after the company repeatedly violated the city&#39;s water restrictions. <br> <br> MDC Homes of Alpharetta, Ga., had already been slapped with two $1,500 fines earlier this week for watering lawns at two homes at its Ashebrook subdivision before the city shut off its supply. <br> <br> ``I can&#39;t understand why, with the situation we&#39;re in, a corporation wouldn&#39;t have more consideration to the other residents in the community,&#39;&#39; said City Manager Brian Hiatt. <br> <br> Since November 2001, the company had received six other fines and a warning on Aug. 10, 2001, according to city records. <br> <br> MDC&#39;s fines total $6,000 out of the roughly $40,000 the city has handed out since February 2001 when the water restrictions began. The company has paid half of its fines. <br> <br> Hiatt said the company has shown a lack of concern for the city&#39;s water restrictions. The city is permitted to end water service when the fines reach $3,000. <br> <br> In response, the city pulled water service from the 12 homes under construction or not yet sold at the Ashebrook subdivision. <br> <br> MDC won&#39;t get water restored until it pays reconnection fees and signs a contract agreeing not to violate the water restrictions. <br> <br> Ken Anson, division manager for MDC, blamed the problems on contractors unaware of the details of the restrictions. Before this week, MDC had received its most recent fine May 23. <br> <br> Monday&#39;s violations, he said, resulted over a misunderstanding by a landscaper who installed sod for two homes and watered it with city water. <br> <br> The company spends $1,000 a week to bring in water to irrigate the entrance area and the lawns of homes not sold, he said, which is permitted. <br> <br> ``We&#39;ve taken those steps to avoid any difficulties of not complying with the water restrictions,&#39;&#39; he said.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/7/192076