News
December 4, 2007
Raleigh Set To Go To Stage 2 Water Restrictions
Raleigh is set to go to Stage 2 Mandatory Conservation Measures should the water supply dip below 90 days. The water supply currently is at 101 days. At today’s City Council meeting, City Manager J. Russell Allen sought and received the council members’ go-ahead to implement the measures should Falls Lake shrink to a 90-day supply.
The measures:
- Prohibit the use of public water for irrigation;
- Prohibit filling new swimming or wading pools. Water may be added to pools to maintain sanitary operating conditions. Filling of pools drained for repair is prohibited;
- Prohibit washing vehicles at any location, except at car-washing facilities that have been certified by the City to be in compliance with the requirements of the conservation certification program. (The complete list is shown below.) A placard issued by the City must be displayed on the car wash. Also, the City may approve the washing of some vehicles for sanitary purposes (such as solid waste trucks);
- Prohibit washing of areas such as sidewalks, patios, decks, driveways, parking lots, streets and exterior building surfaces, except for soiled areas for the maintenance of public health and sanitary conditions;
- Require that leaking water services or plumbing must be repaired within 24 hours of written notification by the City’s Public Utilities Director or service will be interrupted;
- Prohibit the serving of drinking water in restaurants, except upon request;
- Prohibit all non-essential use of water for commercial or public use;
- Prohibit use of water-cooled air conditioners or other equipment that does not recycle cooling water, except when health and safety are adversely affected;
- Requires innkeepers to ask guests spending more than one night to use their towels and bed linens more than once between laundering; and,
- Directs commercial and industrial customers to review water uses and implement industry specific best management water conservation practices.
First violation of the Stage 2 ordinance carries a fine of $1,000. Any recurrence of the violation may result in interruption of water service. There will be a two-week grace period during which the fine will be $250.
Falls Lake currently stands at 242.13 feet, which is 9.37 feet below full and .65 feet below the previous record low set before this drought on Nov. 27, 1993.
The current 30-day pumpage demand average is 40.8 million gallons daily, which is the same as a week ago. Falls Lake’s water supply pool is 28 percent, which projects to a 101-day water supply pool, which is March 15, 2007. (This assumes the worst case scenario of no rain during the period and demand at the current level.)
Amended Stage 1 water restrictions, which went into effect Oct. 23, have resulted in a 23 percent reduction. A reduction of 38 percent has been realized since August 28 when mandatory water use restrictions were implemented. A total of 390 citations, which carry a $200 fine and 12 $1,000 penalties have been issued for the 12 weeks Raleigh has been under mandatory water use restrictions.
According to the National Weather Service’s rain gauge at Raleigh Durham International Airport, the area is 8.9 inches below normal rainfall in 2007. Raleigh remains in an exceptional drought and no significant rainfall is forecast.
For more information on Stage 2 water restrictions, telephone the City’s Public Utilities Department at 857-4540.
Approved Car Washes
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American Pride (Atlantic Ave.)
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American Pride (Millbrook Road)
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American Pride (Wake Forest)
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American Pride (Knightdale)
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American Pride (Capital Blvd.)
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American Pride (Brier Creek)
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American Pride (Hwy. 70)
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Autowash Express (Signet Road)
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Autowash Express (Six Forks Road)
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Auto Bell (Millbrook Road)
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Auto Bell (TW Alexander)
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Auto Bell (Knightdale)
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Auto Bell (Hwy. 70)
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Bunky's Carwash (Glenwood Ave.)
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Northridge Auto Spa (Sandy Forks Rd.)
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Wake Forest Auto Spa
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Big B's Carwash
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Family Carwash (Western Blvd.)
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Mr. Carwash Auto Spa
Prepared by:
Jayne Kirkpatrick
Director
Public Affairs Department
For More Information Contact:
Ed Buchan
Environmental Coordinator - Water
Public Utilities Department
P.O. Box 590
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-857-4540
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