Dear editor:
A person really should possess some modicum of knowledge of a subject before trying to explain it.
Far too many people appear to believe that if the city manager, David Watkins, says it, then it must be true. The most recent example was demonstrated in The Sentinel-Record's headline of May 25, 2015, titled, "Ouachita agreement with city possible by year end."
One of inaccuracies in the article states, "when the water goes through the turbines and into the re-reg pool, the turbines can be reversed and pump it back."
Mr. Watkins, we can generate electricity by turning turbines with water, wind, steam, jet fuel and numerous secondary sources, but these turbines cannot pump water. The actual fact is that re-reg pools are designed so that water can be externally pumped back into the main pool so that water can come through the generators and turn the turbines yet again.
As one of my electric utility friends pointed out, "That's like saying -- just reverse the waterwheel and the stream will flow uphill." Of course, Watkins came close to saying that when he said that pumping water from DeGray Lake (elevation 408 feet) was about the same cost as pumping water from Lake Ouachita (elevation 578 feet).
The "major hurdle" referenced in the article is actually the fact that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have indicated that Hot Springs (and CAW) can only take water from the small 400-acre re-regulation pool below DeGray Lake, not from the main lake. And yes, there are other re-regulation pools in the country, (e.g., Mark Twain Lake in Missouri and Carter's Lake in Georgia).
The real fact of the matter is that we have "from day one" pushed for water from Lake Ouachita, while Watkins has pushed only for DeGray Lake. The truth can no longer be hidden. Ouachita water is the most feasible. However, Watkins appears to be rushing to the front of the other parade in order to take credit for this fact.
In the future, whenever somewhat technical issues need to be explained, ask an expert, not the city manager.
Bob Driggers
Hot Springs
Editorial on 05/27/2015