[Durham INC] Durham Reminds Residents About Year-Round Water Efficiency Ordinance

[Blalock, Amy]

CITY OF DURHAM

Office of Public Affairs

101 City Hall Plaza

Durham, NC 27701

 

 

News Release

 

For Details, Contact:

Amy Blalock

Sr. Public Affairs Specialist

(919) 560-4123 x 11253

(919) 475-7735 (cell)

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

 

For Immediate Release:  April 23, 2010

 

 

Durham Reminds Residents About Year-Round Water Efficiency Ordinance

Outdoor Watering Allowed Up to Three Days Per Week on Odd-Even Schedule

 

DURHAM, N.C. - Now that spring has arrived, Durham residents are
reminded to be mindful of their outdoor water usage and remember to
follow the City of Durham's Year-Round Water Efficiency Ordinance.

 

The outdoor irrigation schedule applies to any spray irrigation system
and allows customers with addresses that end in an odd number to water
on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.  Customers with even-numbered
addresses are allowed to water on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday.  No
watering is allowed to occur between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on these days
and no customers are permitted to water on Mondays.  Temporary licenses
are available for the establishment of new landscapes and hand-watering,
and drip irrigations systems are not restricted by this ordinance.

 

This mandatory schedule closely matches those required by the Town of
Cary, the City of Raleigh, and the Orange Water and Sewer Authority
(OWASA).  "We proactively worked with our neighboring water providers to
ensure clarity and uniformity among our year-round efficiency efforts,"
said Vicki Westbrook, deputy director of the City's Department of Water
Management.  "We all learned very valuable lessons after the most recent
drought and cooperated on a regional effort to better coordinate water
efficiency and water shortage response requirements." 

 

For Durham, irrigation during the spring and summer months can increase
demand on the treatment plants between 20 and 40 percent.  "In addition
to making it easier for residents to understand our requirements, these
irrigation restrictions help the department manage irrigation demands
while encouraging wise water use," said Westbrook.  "By improving the
efficiency of our irrigation practices, we can reduce consumption, save
money, and work to preserve this precious natural resource."  

 

Westbrook also reminded customers that although they are allowed to
water up to three times per week, this frequency may not be necessary
for their landscapes. "Customers should evaluate the needs of their
yards and gardens, taking into consideration rainfall and plant
requirements before they water."

 

In addition to the irrigation schedule, the efficiency ordinance
requires rain sensors or soil moisture sensors for all automated
irrigation systems.  Additional requirements of the ordinance include:

*         No excessive runoff from landscape irrigation;

*         No irrigation while it's raining; and

*         Required repair of known leaks within 30 days.

 

The year-round efficiency requirements went into effect June 1, 2009.
For more information and water-saving tips, contact the departments'
conservation staff at (919) 560-4381 or visit www.DurhamSavesWater.org.


 

Also, residents are encouraged to visit the department's booth at the
Durham Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 24 for more information,
tips, and water-saving devices.  

 

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.

 

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