North Raleigh Times

The City of Raleigh water system has been on Stage 2 water conservation measures since Feb. 15. In those two weeks the pumpage average has decreased to 38.8 million gallons per day (MGD), down from 40.3 MGD which was the approximate average under the Stage 1 amended restrictions. This represents a 3.7 percent decrease in daily pumpage under Stage 2 measures from the Stage 1 amended average. Nine $1,000 citations have been issued.  Water service could be disrupted in the event of second offenses.

The multiple rain events of the past week have raised Raleigh’s water source, Falls Lake, nearly 11 inches and extended the water system’s supply pool in Falls Lake to 124 days, which projects to July 1. (This assumes a worst case scenario of no rain during this period and usage remaining at the current level.)

Falls Lake is at 243.80 feet, which is 7.70 feet below full but 2.28 feet above the all-time low of 241.52 feet that was recorded Dec. 25-26, 2007.

The estimated water supply pool storage in Falls Lake is 33.4 percent.

The next forecast for rain is for Tuesday, March 4. Despite the showers of the past week, the area remains in the grip of an historic exceptional drought.

Adding the 2007 rainfall deficit of 7.2 inches to the 3.1-inch deficit that we have measured in 2008, brings the current rain deficit to 10.3 inches for the past 14 months.

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.

Amended Stage 1 water restrictions, which went into effect Oct. 23, have resulted in a 24 percent reduction. A reduction of 39 percent has been realized since Aug. 28 when mandatory water use restrictions were implemented.  A total of 418 citations, which carry a $200 fine and 22 $1,000 penalties have been issued for the 25 weeks Raleigh has been under mandatory water use restrictions.

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, telephone the City’s Public Utilities Department at 857-4540.

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