Chapel Hill, N.C. — The Orange Water and Sewer Authority became the latest public utility to relax water restrictions when its board voted unanimously Thursday to loosen the taps.

Customers can now use sprinklers and automatic irrigation systems three days a week. People with even-number addresses can water on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, while those with odd-number addresses can water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

OWASA's reservoirs are about 85 percent full and contain enough water to last about 14 months, officials said.

Still, officials encouraged water conservation, noting restaurants should serve water only on request and that people should run washers and dishwashers only with full loads.