WAKE COUNTY

Raleigh 

The Raleigh City Council approved at returns to Stage 1 water conservation restrictions on April 7, 2008. Water uses that are addressed by the ordinance include:

Stage 1 mandatory water use restrictions provide for irrigation one day per week.

Odd-number addresses are permitted to water on Tuesdays and even-number addresses on Wednesdays. Irrigation on those days by automatic irrigation systems will be permitted from midnight to 10 a.m. Those who use Raleigh-supplied water in garden hose-attached sprinklers may irrigate from 6 to 10 a.m. and between 6 and 10 p.m. on the Stage 1 assigned days for their property.

City of Raleigh Public Utilities Department water customers may water two days per week on the odd/even system when physically holding a garden hose in their hand from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 to 10 p.m. Odd addresses may hand water on Tuesdays and Saturdays and even addresses on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Car washing, power washing of sidewalks and driveways and filling of swimming and decorative pools are limited to weekends.

The first violation of the Stage 1 mandatory water restrictions is a $200 fine, and a second violation would result in a $1,000 fine. A third violation would result in interruption of the customer’s water service.

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

Cary

The Town of Cary ended its ban on outdoor watering on April 1, 2008. The ban had included the use of irrigation systems, sprinklers or other automated watering devices.

Hand washing, pressure washing and car washing are allowed any day of the week, but town officials are urging residents to be mindful about their water usage.

Citizens in Cary and Morrisville connected to the Town of Cary ’s water system can use the year-round alternate-day watering schedule that has been in place for several years.

The ban on automated outdoor watering does not apply to reclaimed water system customers, nor does it impact the government’s ability to maintain safe surfaces at its fields. Outdoor washing will also still be OK.

Since 2000, the Town has issued an average of about 600 temporary passes from the rules to allow daily watering as needed to establish new seed, sod, or plugs since doing so helps prevent erosion and allows citizens to make desired aesthetic improvements to their property.

The new water rules come with new penalties. Customers will be given one warning for violating the new rules before any fines are assessed. Those who violate the rules a second time face a fine of $500 and $1,000 for each additional violation. The town could discontinue water service to a violator who violates the rules six times.

Apex

The Town of Apex implemented year-round water restrictions on Oct. 1, 2007, limiting residents to three days of outdoor watering per week with unlimited hand-held watering.

However, in response to the current drought, the Apex Town Council adopted a ban on use of outdoor fountains and automated and sprinkler irrigation, effective Oct. 19, 2007.

Also beginning Oct. 19, the following new restrictions applied to all Town of Apex water customers:

• No exterior irrigation by means of automatic devices, sprinklers, soaker hoses or similar devices.
• All exterior fountains that use Town of Apex municipal water shall be turned off.

Hand held hose watering and vehicle washing is currently not restricted.

No New Landscape Permits are allowed to be issued under the new water restrictions. For New Landscape permits already issued, a period of 30 days of exterior irrigation will be granted in order to establish new lawns or landscaping. The 30-day period began on Oct.19.

After 30 days, on Nov. 16, 2007, all New Landscape permits became void, regardless of the expiration date given on the permit.

A written notice will be issued for a first violation of the new mandatory rules. Upon additional observation of violations, the violator will be subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per violation per day. To report a violation, contact the Public Works Department at 249-3427.

Please give the address, date and time of the observed violation. Public Works staff will investigate all reports of violations. Note: All written notices given during the mandatory year-round water restrictions are still in effect and any additional violations will result in a fine.

The Town of Apex continues to encourage the following voluntary water conservation practices:

Limit vehicle washing to a minimum.

• Refrain from leaving faucets running while shaving, brushing teeth, and rinsing dishes.
• Only run full loads for laundry and dish washing.

Fuquay-Varina

Effective Aug. 30, 2007, all water use was restricted to the following:

• Odd-numbered addresses may irrigate lawns and landscapes only between midnight and 10 a.m. on Tuesdays.
• Even-numbered addresses may irrigate lawns and landscapes only between midnight and 10 a.m. on Wednesdays.
• Washing vehicles at home is allowed only on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Washing sidewalks, patios, decks, driveways and building exteriors is allowed only on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Non-Fire fighting hydrant use is prohibited.
• Filling of Swimming Pools is prohibited.

Exceptions to these restrictions are as follows:

• Agricultural irrigation is allowed for the production of food or the maintenance of livestock.
• Irrigation is allowed for commercial nurseries at a minimum level necessary to maintain stock.
• Commercial car and truck washes are allowed to wash vehicles.
• Municipal pools and those used by health care facilities can be filled.

Garner

See Raleigh restrictions

Holly Springs

The Town of Holly Springs banned the use of sprinklers and automatic irrigation systems starting on Nov. 1, 2007. Hand-watering is only allowed two days a week.

Watering permits for new seed or sod that the town issued Oct. 17, 2007, or afterward expired Nov. 1. However, residents who received 30-day permits before the Oct. 17 rules change can water until the permit's original expiration date.

Washing cars at home was banned effective Nov. 1. However, commercial car washes will remain open after that time. Power washing companies are not restricted, but homeowners can do their own power washing only on weekends.

Knightdale

See Raleigh restrictions

Morrisville

See Cary restrictions

Rolesville

See Raleigh restrictions

Wake Forest

See Raleigh restrictions

Wendell

See Raleigh restrictions

Zebulon

See Raleigh restrictions

DURHAM COUNTY

Durham

Stage III: Moderate Mandatory Conservation Modifications, effective April 1, 2008.

Stage III of the ordinances incorporates practices in Stages I and II and requires the following mandatory measures:

• Customers may water lawns, grass, trees, shrubbery, flowers, golf greens or vegetable gardens on Wednesdays and Saturdays ONLY, between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. OR 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Customers may only water during ONE of the allowed times each Wednesday and Saturday.
• Do NOT wash down outside areas such as sidewalks, patios, driveways, or for other similar purposes.
• Do NOT introduce water into wading pools or swimming pools except to the extent necessary to replenish losses due to evaporation or spillage, and maintain operation of chemical feed equipment. Special consideration may also be given for one-time draining, refilling, maintenance, and cleaning activities for both community and private pools.
• Do NOT serve water in a restaurant or similar establishment except upon request.
• Do NOT use water for any unnecessary purpose or intentionally waste water.
• Do NOT wash the exterior of a motor vehicle except where a private well system is used, or where 50 percent or more of the water is recycled or where it can be demonstrated that 30 gallons of water or less are used to wash the vehicle.

Customers may secure a written license from the city manager (or his designee) to use water contrary to the Stage III mandatory conservation measures if it can be shown to the manager's satisfaction that the licensee's use of water will result in an overall 30 percent or greater reduction in water use. Any license issued pursuant to this provision: (1) must be in the possession of the licensee whenever water is used contrary to the Stage III mandatory conservation measures; and (2) is subject to amendment or revocation by the city manager at any time for good cause.  (Download an application for water license.)

Customers regularly engaged in the sale of plants are permitted to use water for irrigation of their commercial stock in trade, using the minimal amount for survival.

ORANGE COUNTY

Chapel Hill-Carrboro 

On Feb. 28, 2008, the Orange Water and Sewer Authority Board of Directors unanimously voted to move to a Stage Three Water Shortage from March 1. OWASA serves the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community.

Stage Three water restrictions stipulate that OWASA customers:

• Residential customers should voluntarily reduce daily consumpetion to 35 gallons per person. Non-residential customers should reduce their consumption by 20 percent of their pre-drought usage.
• From March 17, a 1.25 charge surchage will go into effect for any residential costumer that uses 3,000 or more gallons in any billing period. That surchage goes up the more water a customer uses.
• Peak rates for non-residential customers will go into effect early on March 1. A 1.25 surchage will also be charged.Service to individually-metered residential customers will be cut off if they exceed an average of more than 600 gallons a day in any billing period.
• No irrigation – including by those in the green industry – is allowed with OWASA drinking water. is not permitted, except by people regularly engaged in the sale of plants, who are allowed to irrigate their commercial stock in trade.
• Hand watering by hoses and cans – except on grass – is permitted three days a week and must be limited to a maximum of one-half inch of water applied to plant material in any given week.
• All other outdoor use of water is prohibited, except for firefighting and other activities necessary for public health or safety.
• OWASA can be used for most construction activities. It cannot be used to prepare subgrade or stone bedding.
• OWASA water can be used for pressure tests, preparing and disinfecting water lines, and flow tests if the water is recovered and returned to the University Lake Reservoir. This does not apply to testing in-building fire control sprinkler systems.
• Temporary hydrant meters can remain if water is necessary for the production of concrete and motar building materials, if temporary water service to offices or trailers is needed during construction, or emergency conditions require immediate use of water from hydrant meters.
• Prohibited activities include: washing vehicles, pressure-washing building exteriors and filling or topping off swimming pools, ornamental fountains, ponds and like devices.
• Water waste, including plumbing leaks that can be readily identified and corrected, is prohibited.
• Restaurants and dining facilities shall serve water only on request of the customer.
• Hotels, motels, and other facilities providing sleeping accommodations shall change bed linens only upon request of the customer, upon customer changeover, or every five days for long-term customers.
• The operation of dishwashers and clothes washers only when loaded to their maximum capacity, or at water level settings appropriate for the size of the load, is strongly encouraged.
• The use of ultra-low flow toilets, tank dams, flow restrictors (aerators) and low-flow showerheads, where not otherwise required, is strongly encouraged.
• Plumbing systems shall be properly maintained and repaired to prevent water leaks.
• Indoor water leaks on property or facilities of OWASA customers must be repaired within 10 days of
  discovery and notification by OWASA.

CHATHAM COUNTY

Stage 3-B water restrictions took effect in Chatham County on Oct. 29, 2007. The restrictions apply primarily to customers in the northeastern part of the county who are served by Jordan Lake. County residents on municipal water systems – including Siler City and Cary – must follow restrictions imposed by those localities.

Stage 3-B water restrictions stipulate:

• County water customers are banned from using all types of outdoor irrigation systems from next Monday. Watering by hand in urgent situations is permitted, but people are urged to use private well waters or recycled water. Water can be caught in rain buckets or bathtubs while the shower is running.
• Commercial car washes using county water are to cease operation until further notice.
• Fire departments were instructed to use raw water in place of county water whenever possible. Fire hydrants are to be used for putting out fires or other public emergencies.
• Filling or refilling any swimming or wading pools, ponds, fountains or similar items is banned. Customers cannot add small amounts of water to bring these up to normal levels.
• County water cannot be used to wash outside areas, including building exteriors, streets, driveways, decks, parking lots, service station aprons, patios or other types of impervious surfaces, such as paved areas.
• Water-cooled or other equipment that does not recycle cooling water can be operated only when health and safety are impacted.
• Customers should not use water for dust control or to compact soil.
• Customers should avoid any activities that waste county water supplies.

Siler City

Officials lifted the town's water emergency status on Oct. 29, 2007, but kept mandatory restrictions in place. Residential and commercial customers must reduce water consumption by 20 percent.

The regulations stipulate that it is unlawful to:

• operate commercial car washes.
• water outdoor lawn, shrubbery, flowers or other outdoor vegetation.
• wash cars or other vehicles.
• wash outdoor areas, including sidewalks, patios and driveways.
• introduce water into a swimming pool or run water in a decorative fountain, pool or pond.
• use water for any nonessential use.

JOHNSTON COUNTY

Effective Oct. 22, 2007, Johnston County water customers were directed to conserve, minimize or eliminate non-essential uses of water. Lawn irrigation shall be limited to one day per week as follows:

• Odd addresses Tuesday
• Even addresses Wednesday

Systems supplied by the county, which includes the towns of Clayton, Kenly, Four Oaks and Princeton, and private systems owned by Aqua N.C. and Carolina Water Service are also asked to assist within their jurisdictions. The mandatory water conservation order will remain in place until further notice and most likely until the occurrence of significant rainfall in the region. Commercial uses of water are not prohibited, but conservation is urgently requested.

Wayne County

Goldsboro

From Nov. 5, 2007, Goldsboro adopted mandatory Stage 3 water restrictions. Residential and commercial water customers must stop outdoor watering.

Car washes and car dealerships were ordered to cut use by 30 percent or be charged double the normal rate for both city water and sewer services.

Residential customers get a warning for a first violation, a $100 for a second and $200 fine for each following violation. Fines are increased for commercial customers.

Other restrictions stipulate that:

• All pressure washing or washing of houses, driveways or rain gutters by both individual and commercial customers is banned.
• Water will not be served in restaurants except when requested by customers. Restaurants are encouraged to sell and serve bottled water.
• Leaking water services or plumbing must be repaired within 24 hours of written notification by the City.
• No car-wash fund-raisers are allowed.

To add your community's restrictions, send us an e-mail.