INC NEWS - Durham Returns to Stage II Water Conservation Practices

[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:  September 4, 2008

 

Durham Returns to Stage II Water Conservation Practices

Some Outdoor Water Restrictions Remain in Effect

 

Durham, N.C. - As a result of a series of rain events during the last
week of August, both of the City of Durham's supply lakes have refilled,
with water flowing over the dams at both Lake Michie and Little River.  

 

Based on the current water supply status, City Manager Thomas Bonfield
announced today that he is lifting most mandatory restrictions, with the
exception of outdoor irrigation restrictions which allow two times per
week watering, and implementing Stage II Voluntary Conservation of
Durham's Water Conservation Ordinance, effective Thursday, September 4,
2008.  

 

Thanks to a combination of water restrictions and customer cooperation
throughout the summer months, water usage has consistently been 22
percent to 25 percent less than the same period's usage in 2007.  "I am
pleased to report that with the refilling of our two water supply lakes
at this time of year, thanks in part to the continued conservation of
our citizens, we feel that we can lift most of our mandatory
restrictions and allow our customers to address some long-delayed
maintenance activities," Bonfield said.  "We really appreciate our
customers' compliance with mandatory restrictions and encourage them to
continue many of their water-saving activities when practical."

 

Ongoing restrictions will continue to limit watering using in-ground
irrigation systems or above ground hose-end spray irrigation systems to
two days per week.  The watering schedule will continue to be Wednesdays
and Saturdays ONLY, between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. OR 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Customers may only water during ONE of the allowed times each Wednesday
and Saturday.  

 

Watering by hand (with cans, wands, and hand-held hoses) is allowed any
day of the week.  To enable long-deferred landscaping installation and
maintenance activities, customers may apply for a water use license,
which will allow watering on days other than Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Customers interested in applying for a license may download an
application at www.durhamnc.gov <http://www.durhamnc.gov>  or contact
the City's Department of Water Management at (919) 560-4381.  Licenses
will be issued with a 30-day limit and customers will be given signs to
post on their property.

 

Bonfield cautioned that stream flows throughout the state continue to
flow at levels well below average for this time of year and that City
staff will continue to carefully monitor water supply status, usage, and
weather patterns.  "If the water supply status begins to dwindle again,
the City will re-enact mandatory restrictions if necessary," Bonfield
said.  "We still need our citizens to continue performing the good
conservation practices they developed during the mandatory restrictions
so we can continue to protect our community's water supply."

 

Stage II measures request that customers:  

*         Limit the use of clothes washers and dishwashers, and when
used, to operate fully loaded.

*         Reduce the flushing of toilets to the minimum whenever
practical.

*         Limit car washing to the minimum.

*         Limit wash downs of outside areas such as sidewalks, patios,
driveways, or other similar purposes.

*         Limit hours of operation of water-cooled air conditioners if
possible.

*         Use biodegradable disposable dishes and utensils, both for
residential and commercial purposes, where feasible.

 

Bonfield advised that with the recently implemented rate structure,
customers should continue as many of their water-saving practices as
possible to reduce their water bills.  Information on the tiered rate
structure, along with 111 water-saving tips, are available at 
www.DurhamSavesWater.org <http://www.DurhamSavesWater.org>  or by
contacting Durham One Call at (919) 560-1200 to request 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, visit www.durhamnc.gov/departments/wm
<http://www.durhamnc.gov/departments/wm/> .  

 

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