Last week’s rains are continuing to raise Raleigh’s water source, Falls Lake. The lake currently is at 248.82 feet, which is approximately 2 inches higher than it was on March 11, but 2.68 feet below full. The water system’s supply pool is at 69.5 percent. This equates to 265 days of water supply, which projects to Dec. 4. (This assumes a worst case scenario of no rain during this period and usage remaining at the current level.)

The 30-day pumpage average is 38.4 million gallons per day (MGD). This is 100,000 gallons per day less than the pumpage of earlier this week. The pumpage average for the four-week period that Raleigh has been in Stage 2 restrictions is 38.3 MGD, which is 2 MGD or 5 percent less than compared to the 40.3 MGD average posted in the Amended Stage 1 restrictions.

However, exceptional drought continues its stronghold on much of North Carolina and a couple of significant rain events of one-inch will do nothing to lessen its grip. Combining the 7.2-inch rain deficit of 2007 with the 1.6 year-to-date deficit for 2008 equals 8.8 inches of rainfall Raleigh has not received in the past 14 and a half months. The next rain is forecast for Saturday.   

Fourteen $1,000 citations have been issued under Stage 2 restrictions. Water service could be disrupted in the event of second offenses.  

The following are the City of Raleigh water system’s Stage 2 Water Conservation Measures:

• Prohibit the use of public water for irrigation;
• Prohibit filling new swimming or wading pools. Water may be added to pools to maintain sanitary operating conditions.  Filling of pools drained for repair is prohibited;
• Prohibit washing vehicles at any location, except at car-washing facilities that have been certified by the City to be in compliance with the requirements of the conservation certification program.   A placard issued by the City must be displayed on the car wash facility. Also, the City may approve the washing of some  vehicles for sanitary purposes (such as solid waste trucks);
• Prohibit washing of areas such as sidewalks, patios, decks, driveways, parking lots, streets and exterior building surfaces, except for soiled areas for the maintenance of public health and sanitary conditions;
• Leaking water services or plumbing will be interrupted immediately upon notification to the City of Raleigh Public Utilities Department. Water service will be restored when repairs are completed;
• Prohibit the serving of drinking water in restaurants, except upon request;
• Prohibit all non-essential use of water for commercial or public use;
• Buildings with water-cooled air conditioners or heating equipment that do not recycle City-supplied water must adjust thermostats to the highest or lowest setting available, respectively, except when the occupant’s health and safety are adversely affected;
• Require innkeepers to ask guests spending more than one night to use their towels and bed linens more than once between laundering; and,
• Direct commercial and industrial customers to review water uses and implement industry specific best management water conservation practices.

The water conservation restrictions apply to all City of Raleigh water customers, including those in towns that have merged water and sewer systems with Raleigh. Those towns are Garner, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Knightdale, Wendell and Zebulon. 

For more information on Stage 2 water restrictions, visit the City’s website at www.raleighnc.gov or telephone the City’s Public Utilities Department at 857-4540.

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