7/23/02

By CARYL VELISEK

A dispute over water has caused a turmoil in the small town of Thurmont, Md., in northern Frederick County, and created a major problem for the town and horse owners, Bill Sullivan and Christa Rhen.
For some time now, the couple has been transporting about 150 gallons of water a day in various tubs and containers, from their home in town to their horses on the farm they rent.
At a meeting of the town council on July 16, the horse owners were told they could not use town water for their animals.
After meeting with the council and hearing their verdict, Sullivan called the water problem he and Rhen are facing, “an emergency situation” and suggested a town meeting might be in order to let the whole town have a say since it is their water.
“I live in Thurmont,” he said, “and I pay for my water like everyone else.”
Like many municipalities in the area, Thurmont is facing unanticipated water woes exacerbated by the current drought. Christa Rhen and Bill Sullivan live in the town of Thurmont and rent some acreage outside the town limits where they keep nine horses, one donkey and a goat.
Several of the horses are Thoroughbreds and they all are “rescued” animals, taken in by the couple to keep them from going to slaughter or being destroyed.
With the current drought situation, the pond on the rented farm in question has been steadily going down until it is approximately 18 inches deep in the center, stagnant and covered with algae — unhealthy, according to the couple, for horses to drink. Streams that usually run through the pond are dry, they said.
According to Gary Dingle, town water superintendent, Thurmont is on a very strict water use policy because of the current drought.
“We don’t allow people to water lawns or wash their cars,” he said.
Some neighbors complained to Dingle when they saw the horse owners transporting the water out of town. Rhen spoke with Dingle about the matter to explain to him what they were doing, she said. He temporarily approved their actions until he could look into the situation.
Several days later he told Rhen they would have to stop using the water.
Dingle gave three reasons why he could not let them use the water from the town.
One, the horses are located outside the town limits. If they were within the town limits they could use town water. Two, he saw the horses drinking from the pond on the farm.
And three, there was some water left in the pond.
He said letting them take water from the town would be going against everything the town was trying to do to conserve water.
Dingle also noted that the water was being transported in containers and left open and much of it was evaporating in the heat before the animals could drink it.
At one point the council meeting turned into a shouting match, but the council was adamant against letting the horses use town water, Rhen said.
“I kind of knew how things would go at the meeting beforehand,” Rhen said. “I have already paid one fine. I still have to fight for my horses and will go before a judge.”
At least five people have offered water, including the neighbor across the road from the farm, Rhen said.
Lands End Farm, a horse rescue facility, had offered the use of a large tank to hold water and keep it from evaporating.
Rhen said most of her horses are with her to live out their lives, although they do ride some.
“I think these people (who are forbidding the use of town water) don’t know much about animals. They said it has nothing to do with horses, it is about a violation,” Rhen said.
“ I love my horses and I have always taken good care of them. I didn’t want to take water from anyone because it seemed like I would be a charity case and I don’t want to be that.”
Rhen said she will accept water from those who have offered but it is only a temporary solution.
On July 23, the town of Thurmont will hold a public hearing on a resolution to amend the town water rules.
Among other things, they hope to increase fines for violations to $250 for the first offense and $500 for subsequent offenses.