INC NEWS - Durham Bans All Outdoor Lawn Watering

[RW Pickle]

>From the City Public Information Office.
RWP
27 Beverly
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Durham, N.C. – The City of Durham will again tighten water restrictions
tomorrow, October 16, 2007, eliminating outdoor lawn watering and other
outdoor irrigation.  This announcement comes following an evaluation of
this weekend’s water use combined with continued dry forecasts, according
to City Manager Patrick W. Baker.

Despite announcing last week that outdoor watering would be restricted to
Saturdays only, Baker said that today’s move complements Governor Mike
Easley’s request that municipalities require customers to eliminate
outdoor watering, as well as reinforces the City’s current restrictions
that limit vehicle washing and require that restaurants serve water to
patrons only upon request.

“After re-evaluating our water situation this weekend, I feel it’s prudent
to cut back even more and even sooner that than we had anticipated,” Baker
said.  Since implementing Stage III Moderate Mandatory Conservation on
September 21, usage has decreased by only 16 percent, significantly less
than the City’s anticipated 30 percent goal.

While the restrictions eliminate outdoor watering through use of automatic
sprinkler systems and hose-end sprinklers, the use of hand-held watering
containers or drip irrigation will still be allowed on Saturdays only,
between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. OR 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

“It is essential that we start working together to inform the public about
the seriousness of our current water situation and how they can help make
a difference,” Baker said.  “With no significant rainfall in sight, we
need to start thinking about ways that we can extend our water supply for
the future.”

The City has recently been in discussions with the City of Raleigh to
implement similar water restrictions and adopt similar time tables.  “Our
goal was to minimize public confusion about outdoor water restrictions,”
Baker said.  “It can get confusing when different information about
watering restrictions is provided from different sources depending on
where you live.  We’re all in similar situations now, so working together
benefits the entire region.”

Both jurisdictions will continue to use their existing enforcement
strategies, with the City issuing warnings to violators and terminating
water service for continued non-compliance.

To help City staff monitor the effectiveness of these new mandatory
restrictions, customers are encouraged to report water waste to Durham One
Call at (919) 560-1200 or online at http://www.durhamnc.gov. 

City staff updates the Water Supply Status Web site daily.  Residents may
access the information from the red “hot link” on the homepage of the
City’s Web site at http://www.durhamnc.gov.  Additional conservation tips,
information on water-wise landscaping or how to acquire rain barrels are
also posted on the Web site.  Residents may also call the City’s
Department of Water Management at (919) 560-4381 for additional
information.

About the Department of Water Management
The City’s Department of Water Management is responsible for the operation
and maintenance of Durham's water supply, water treatment and water
reclamation (wastewater treatment) facilities, the collection and
distribution systems (including meter reading) and customer billing
services.  For more information on this department, visit the City’s Web
site at www.durhamnc.gov/departments/wm/.