Raleigh still enforcing water restrictions

Raleigh, N.C. — The state is recovering from the drought, but city officials are still out enforcing water regulations.

More than 40 Raleigh water customers were cited for violations this week and charged $200 fines – the cost for a first offense.

"We do have to enforce the regulations," said Don Casterlin, a code enforcement inspector for the city.

"The second time you're caught, it's $1,000. The third violation, your water is shut off," he said. "They are serious consequences, but it's a serious situation. We've got to conserve our water supply."

The City Council voted to return to Stage I water conservation measures in April, and water customers are permitted to use irrigation one weekday per week and one weekend day to water their lawns.

For odd-numbered addresses, sprinklers are allowed on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Even-numbered addresses can use them Wednesdays and Sundays. Automatic irrigation systems can be used between midnight and 10 a.m. Hose-end sprinklers are allowed from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 10pm.

Watering with a handheld hose is allowed anytime.

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Latest Comments

"Apparently you missed the point that the OVERAGE of water that is in there now is floating away."

smcallah - gasoline continually evaporates out of your gas tank. Are you running your car until the last drop is gone?

While there is a lot of water around ATTM, easing restrictions while still in a drought is counterproductive to getting people to obey the restrictions, which is hard enough in itself. OWASA has year-round basic restrictions and it works. Water levels never got below 45%/6 months supply.

DontAnnoyMe
June 13, 2008 9:44 p.m.

Dale - yours is a typical foolish response. This city has been annexing and taking on tons of growth. They allowed that growth to get out of sync with the available supply. When you reach a point where you are begging people not to flush their toilets, and then shut down some businesses you have failed in your responsibilities. Having conversation measures is fine, but as I said before, you should be able to provide supply without even the need for restrictions even during dry periods. By doing that, when you do get to a drought, you have a lot more of a water buffer available to see you through that drought. The city forces people onto the system and then does not have adequate resource. They are working on getting additional supplies and hopefully those will come online before things get serious again. And Raleigh has added users; they have not been supplying those towns forever. They were greedy and wanted the extra money.

whatelseisnew
June 13, 2008 7:51 p.m.

The water police is out again. Meekerville is using the excessive fines to fund the general fund.

DontLikeTheSocialistObama
June 13, 2008 7:49 p.m.

They announced yesterday our drought status has changed to moderate I think.

Besides....this is the same situation we had last year. In May, Falls Lake was full, by July/August, we were having problems because of the heat and little/no rain (sound familiar lately?). But THIS year, we have watering restrictions. Cary has had 3 day/wk odd/even restrictions for years and they are the LAST ones impacted by droughts usually. It's about time Raleigh learns by example. I'd rather conserve a little now, and not have to go to extremes again this year, than just go back to "normal" until we are in trouble again...that's foolish.

And to answer a previous poster about gardens, City of Raleigh's water restrictions rules say that "Hand-held hoses- allowed any time" and "Drip irrigation- not restricted"....so that could help you there. We do that for ours, and just are letting the grass go with what God sends.:)

busyb97
June 13, 2008 2:04 p.m.

Well, according to the following link, we're back under moderate drought conditions.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nc/nwis/uv/?site_no=02087182&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060