News
March 4, 2008
Stage 2 Brings 4.5 Percent Reduction In Water Use
Rain is forecast for today, this evening and later this week. The daily pumpage for the 18 days that the City of Raleigh water system has been in Stage 2 water conservation is 4.5 percent below the Amended Stage 1 daily pumpage.
That’s the good news. However, exceptional drought continues its stronghold on much of North Carolina and even a couple of significant rain events of one-inch will do nothing to lessen its grip.
The daily pumpage average since Feb. 15, when Raleigh entered Stage 2 water conservation measures, is 38.5 million gallons per day (MGD), 1.8 MGD less than the 40.3 MGD averaged under Amended Stage 1 restrictions. Twelve $1,000 citations have been issued under Stage 2 restrictions. Water service could be disrupted in the event of second offenses. The 30-day pumpage average is 39.2 MGD, which is a decrease of 0.5 MGD from last week.
The multiple rain events of the past week have raised Raleigh’s water source, Falls Lake, nearly 10 inches and extended the water system’s supply pool in Falls Lake to 124 days, which projects to July 6. (This assumes a worst case scenario of no rain during this period and usage remaining at the current level.)
In the droughts of 1993, 2002 and 2005, Falls Lake recovered to within one foot of its normal water supply pool full level by this calendar date.
Falls Lake is at 243.79 feet, which is 7.71 feet below full, but 2.27 feet above the all-time low of 241.52 feet that was recorded Dec. 25-26, 2007.
The estimated water supply pool storage in Falls Lake is 33.2 percent.
Adding the 2007 rainfall deficit of 7.2 inches to the 3.5-inch deficit that we have measured in 2008, brings the current rain deficit to 10.7 inches for the past 14 months.
The following are the City of Raleigh water system’s Stage 2 Water
Conservation 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. A placard issued by the City must be displayed on the car wash facility. 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;
- Leaking water services or plumbing will be interrupted immediately upon notification to the City of Raleigh Public Utilities Department. Water service will be restored when repairs are completed;
- Prohibit the serving of drinking water in restaurants, except upon request;
- Prohibit all non-essential use of water for commercial or public use;
- Buildings with water-cooled air conditioners or heating equipment that do not recycle City-supplied water must adjust thermostats to the highest or lowest setting available, respectively, except when the occupant’s health and safety are adversely affected;
- Require innkeepers to ask guests spending more than one night to use their towels and bed linens more than once between laundering; and,
- Direct commercial and industrial customers to review water uses and implement industry specific best management water conservation practices.
The water conservation restrictions apply to all City of Raleigh water customers, including those in towns that have merged water and sewer systems with Raleigh. Those towns are Garner, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Knightdale, Wendell and Zebulon. For more information on Stage 2 water restrictions, visit the City’s website at www.raleighnc.gov or telephone the City’s Public Utilities Department at 857-4540.
Prepared by:
Jayne Kirkpatrick
Director
Public Affairs Department
For More Information Contact:
Dale Crisp
Director
Public Utilities Department
One Exchange Plaza, Suite 620
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-857-4540
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