Laundromat benefits from drought
Updated: July 24, 2012
DECATUR -- Water restrictions aren't hurting area laundromats. Many are actually seeing more business from rural towns. WCIA-3's Brittany Harris has tonight's Drought Watch.
"It doesn't bother me coming in because it gets done a lot quicker." Dawn Knorr has become a regular at Pride Cleaners. She comes in about once a week to wash all her clothes. "Just to save, just in case it might continue to be dry, don't want to run out."
She lives in Mt. Auburn and has a well-water system. It's doing okay, but she's worried that could change.
"If they were to dry out, you'd have to haul water or have some water tanks brought in. I'm hoping for rain."
She says she's saving a good amount on water by coming here. Owner, George Johns, says he's gotten a lot of new customers.
"With our large machines, they can put in more stuff in a larger machine, and it actually uses less water anyway, than a single load at home."
The average residential machine uses about 40-gallons of water. Johns says his washers can do a lot more for a lot less.
"I know customers who do two loads a day at home, where as they can come here for one day a week and do ten loads in a matter of three hours."
The drought doesn't look like it will be letting up any time soon, so Knorr says she'll continue her weekly trips to the cleaners. Johns says his business hasn't had to deal with any water restrictions yet.
People in Decatur and Mt. Zion will be under mandatory water restrictions starting Wednesday. That's because the lake level continues to drop.
That means you can only water your plants on certain days of the week, and you can't wash your car at home. If you want water at a restaurant, you'll have to ask for it. Anyone breaking the rules can be ticketed and fined.
"It doesn't bother me coming in because it gets done a lot quicker." Dawn Knorr has become a regular at Pride Cleaners. She comes in about once a week to wash all her clothes. "Just to save, just in case it might continue to be dry, don't want to run out."
She lives in Mt. Auburn and has a well-water system. It's doing okay, but she's worried that could change.
"If they were to dry out, you'd have to haul water or have some water tanks brought in. I'm hoping for rain."
She says she's saving a good amount on water by coming here. Owner, George Johns, says he's gotten a lot of new customers.
"With our large machines, they can put in more stuff in a larger machine, and it actually uses less water anyway, than a single load at home."
The average residential machine uses about 40-gallons of water. Johns says his washers can do a lot more for a lot less.
"I know customers who do two loads a day at home, where as they can come here for one day a week and do ten loads in a matter of three hours."
The drought doesn't look like it will be letting up any time soon, so Knorr says she'll continue her weekly trips to the cleaners. Johns says his business hasn't had to deal with any water restrictions yet.
People in Decatur and Mt. Zion will be under mandatory water restrictions starting Wednesday. That's because the lake level continues to drop.
That means you can only water your plants on certain days of the week, and you can't wash your car at home. If you want water at a restaurant, you'll have to ask for it. Anyone breaking the rules can be ticketed and fined.
