[Durham INC] Durham Water Demand Increasing As Drought Continues

[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

 

 

 

 

For Immediate Release: July 15, 2011

 

 

 

Durham Water Demand Increasing As Drought Conditions Continue

Residents Encouraged to Reduce Outdoor Water Usage 

 

DURHAM, N.C. - Although recent rainfall in Durham has been helped to
replenish Durham's water supply, City officials are advising residents
to conserve water as average daily water usage and temperatures continue
to rise.  

 

According to the City of Durham's Water Management Department, the
City's two supply lakes, Lake Michie and Little River Lake, are just
below full with 176 days of supply remaining (assuming no additional
rainfall occurs). However, water usage has increased by an average of 5
million gallons per day (MGD) during the last 30 days and the average
daily consumption of 33.34 MGD in June is nearly 18 percent higher than
usage in June 2010, which was 28.32 MGD. Demand is expected to continue
to rise as temperatures rise, and the available water supply will
continue to decline if rainfall continues to be relatively low. 

 

In June, the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC)
declared moderate drought conditions for the piedmont of North Carolina,
including Durham County. DMAC advises all water users to use water
wisely to ensure adequate supplies and lessen the risk of falling into
the extreme drought conditions that 13 other counties currently face.
"We are into the peak water usage season, which is June to August, and
some residents may use three to five times more water than during other
times of the year," said Vicki Westbrook, assistant director of the
City's Water Management Department. "Due to the moderate drought
condition affecting our area, we urge all residents to conserve water
whenever possible, focusing on minimizing non-essential water use,
especially outdoor irrigation." 

 

To better manage the water supply in the event that drought conditions
worsen, the City's Water Management Department has stepped-up
enforcement of the Year-Round Water Efficiency Ordinance by increasing
the number of enforcement vehicles on patrol throughout the city.
According to Al Nelson, conservation coordinator with the City's Water
Management Department, the increased presence in the community lets
residents know that the City is being proactive in its efforts to manage
Durham's water supply. "Customers should report any water ordinance
violations to the department as well as proactively reduce their water
consumption to ensure adequate supplies in the event that drought
conditions worsen," Nelson said.

 

Residents are reminded to use water wisely, minimize unnecessary use of
water, and consider these water-saving tips to help extend Durham's
water supplies:

*         Water lawns and landscaping only when needed. Durham's
Year-Round Efficiency Ordinance is in effect and limits customer
irrigation based on street addresses. 

o    Odd addresses may water on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.  

o    Even addresses may water on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday.  

o    No watering is permitted between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on any day.

*         Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes, and scrape dishes
instead of rinsing when loading the dishwasher. 

*         For summer refreshment, keep a pitcher of water in the fridge
instead of running the tap until the water is cold. 

*         Put your favorite handyperson to work fixing leaks around the
house, which could help save about 200 gallons of water per week. 

*         Install water-efficient shower heads and consider
participating in the City's Toilet Rebate Program.

 

To report suspected water ordinance violations, contact Durham One Call
at (919) 560-1200 or submit a report via the City's website at 
www.DurhamSavesWater.org <http://www.durhamsaveswater.org/> . Residents
may also visit the City's website for more information on how to save
water this summer, including conservation tips, the irrigation schedule,
and the toilet rebate program.

 

About the City's Department of Water Management
The City's Department of 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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