INC NEWS - Durham Bans All Outdoor Lawn Watering

[Blalock, Amy]

CITY OF DURHAM

Office of Public Affairs

101 City Hall Plaza

Durham, NC 27701

 

 

News Release

 

For Details, Contact:

Amy C. Blalock

Senior Public Affairs Specialist

(919) 560-4123 x 253

(919) 475-7735 (cell)

Amy.Blalock at durhamnc.gov <mailto:Amy.Blalock at durhamnc.gov> 

 

For Immediate Release:  October 15, 2007

 

 

City of Durham Bans All Outdoor Lawn Watering

 

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
<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
<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/.  

 

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