Raleigh, N.C. — Water demand is down in Raleigh, but the ongoing lack of rain continues to cause worry, the city said Wednesday.

Stage 1 mandatory water restrictions, which went into effect Aug. 28, have resulted in a 16 percent reduction in daily use.

Current water usage is about 55 million gallons per day, down 3.6 percent from last week’s claculation of the 30-day average. The Triangle’s year-to-date rainfall is still nearly 7 inches below normal.

The National Weather Service is forecasting no significant rainfall through the coming week.

So far, 235 citations, which each carry a $200 penalty, have been issued under the first 28 days of the water restrictions.

The restrictions apply to all Raleigh water customers, including those in Garner, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Knightdale, Wendell and Zebulon.

Stage 1 restrictions include:

• Using sprinkler systems only between midnight and 10 a.m. on Tuesdays (odd-number addresses) or Wednesdays (even-number addresses).
   
• Using hoses with sprinklers only from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays (odd-number addresses) or Wednesdays (even-number addresses).
   
• Hand-held watering on the same times and days as sprinklers, as well as during those hours on Saturdays (odd-number addresses) or Sundays (even-number addresses).
   
• Washing cars only on weekends, although commercial car washes can operate seven days a week.
   
• Power-washing homes, sidewalks or driveways only on weekends, although commercial services can operate as normal.