RALEIGH, N.C. — With the city's water supply critically low, the Raleigh City Council voted Tuesday in favor of mandatory water restrictions, which would limit how water customers in Raleigh and surrounding communities use their water.

"The lake level is as low as it ever got in 2002," Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker said in an interview with WRAL Monday. "And over the next few days, it may get as low (as it has been) since it was built in the late 70s, so it's pretty dry for us."

Under Stage I of the mandatory water restrictions, which go into effect Nov. 2, people who get their water from the city of Raleigh could only water their lawns every other day and not during the day. Customers with odd-numbered addresses can water their lawns on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; even-numbered addresses on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. (

Full list of mandatory conservation measures.

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Beginning Nov. 8, violators of the city's water restrictions would be fined $50. Additional fines could cost $500. Until then, violators will receive a warning.

Voluntary conservation, which the city has been under since Sept. 20, has reduced water consumption by 15 percent. City leaders hope mandatory restrictions save another 15 percent, meaning the area's water appetite would go from about 60 million gallons each day to about 40 million gallons.

Besides Raleigh, mandatory restrictions would be in effect for Garner, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Knightdale, Wendell and Zebulon.