Wake Schools Adopt New Water Conservation Measures

RALEIGH, N.C. — Wake County schools are trying to adhere to Gov. Mike Easley's request to conserve water.

Child Nutrition Services (CNS) eliminated dishwashers from schools and is using disposable items. Only 6 of the 125 schools are still operating dishwashers. CNS ordered most of its fruits and vegetables to be delivered pre-cut and washed.

Officials say a majority of faucets have been outfitted with aerators. Only one load of towels is done a day with water levels on lowest setting. If the amount of laundry permits, it is washed every other day. New schools are getting front-loading washers, which use about half the water of top-loaders.

The school system is consulting a turf management specialist on how to water athletic fields enough to keep them alive, but not necessarily green.

According to officials, plants and grass at older schools are not watered, and schools with irrigation systems have them set to follow restrictions in their respective municipalities. Low-flow toilets go in all new schools and those undergoing major renovations.

Officials say the car wash for system vehicles was turned off on Aug. 16. They say no school organization can use car washes as a fund-raiser. School buses are no longer washed.

Officials say Raleigh water consumption is down by 25 percent since voluntary restrictions were imposed.

From May 1 to June 9 when the city did not have any voluntary or mandatory restrictions, officials say the city's average consumption was 56.68 millions gallon per day (MGD). From June 10 to June 26 during voluntary restrictions, average consumption was 66.67 MGD. From June 26 to Aug. 19, the city's average consumption was 50.0 MGD. Officials say typically this time of year, Raleigh consumes 53.4 MGD.

Fayetteville water consumption is down by almost 50 percent since water restrictions have been imposed.

Officials say Moore County's average consumption was 2.6 MGD from Aug. 6 to Aug. 12 during voluntary restrictions. From Aug. 13 to Aug. 20, Moore County's average consumption was down to 1.4 MGD. Typically this time of year, Moore County consumes 3.2 MGD.