Water Woes Continue For Outlying Counties

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- With rainfall being scarce all summer and the early part of fall, is Tennessee close to the kind of crisis they're seeing in Georgia with no water at all?

Video: Outlying Counties Face Loss Of Water Supply

The difference between shorter showers and a completely dry tap could be how close you live to a major river.

For many communities, the Cumberland River is a saving grace. It's a navigational river, so the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers keeps it at a certain level.

But before Monday’s rain, the middle Tennessee area was about 17 inches below normal, and it is taking its toll.

In Lafayette, rain is a stranger that people there really wish would take up residence. The city and Macon County have had to enforce and also live with strict water restrictions throughout the summer.

The city has got an empty place all ready for the rain when it comes.

Gene Reid said he had to turn off Lafayette's main water source until rain built it back up.

The city is using a backup supply, but times are tight.

"We're about 18 inches below normal. So it's going to take a lot of (rain)," he said.

The restrictions are in place. Hefty fines have been handed out to people washing their cars and washing sidewalks.

"It worries me quite a bit, quite a bit. The future of the town (and) the reliability on its water source are here," he said.

So where could the next city with such a shortage lie?

Any city that gets their water from the Cumberland River like Nashville, Gallatin and Hendersonville shouldn't run out of water anytime in the near future. But the farther away you get, like in Portland or Franklin, the more likely people are to experience a shortage.

Right now, Portland's primary water source is 75 percent below normal, and in Franklin, it’s 90 percent below normal.

Communities that don't live along the Cumberland but get water from other large bodies of water like Percy Priest are also doing OK this year. It would take several years of drought to put a severe dent in those water supplies.