Restrictions Don't Dampen Water Use in Raleigh

Raleigh, N.C. — Despite the enforcement of mandatory water restrictions, water use reached near-record highs last week, said Raleigh officials.

The city's water use on Saturday, July 7, was the third-highest recorded at the E.M. Johnson Water Treatment Plant, authorities said.

The Falls Lake watershed, from which Raleigh draws its water, is in a moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The high rate of water use came despite permanent, mandatory restrictions that come into effect Monday, July 2. The regulations allow City of Raleigh water customers to use lawn irrigation systems only three days a week.

Code enforcers said they issued 202 warnings during the first eight days the restrictions were in place.

The water supply in in Falls Lake was at 81 percent Tuesday, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The lack of rainfall has caused the water level in Falls Lake to fall for the past five weeks, said Raleigh Public Utilities Director Dale Crisp.

Falls Lake was last full on May 24, said Crisp.

The rain gauge at the Raleigh-Durham Airport is 4.6 inches below normal for the year-to-date, according to the National Weather Service.