U.S. Water News Online
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Gov. Mike Easley has urged residents to cut their water consumption by 20 percent as drought continued to afflict every part of the state.
Statewide, 59 of North Carolina's 597 public water systems were calling for voluntary water restrictions and 21 imposed mandatory restrictions because of the persistent dry conditions.
"Stream flows and groundwater levels are approaching their lowest levels in recorded history and many of our reservoirs are declining by one foot every 10 days," Easley said, adding that state agencies also were told to cut nonessential water use.
"We all must conserve if we are to, in any way, minimize the impact of the drought."
Drought has spread to all 100 counties in North Carolina. The state's 12 westernmost counties are the driest, classified as exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Another 28 counties, east of Asheville and along the South Carolina border to Robeson County, were in extreme drought, while 44 counties in the northwest and central part of the state were slightly better off in severe drought.
Moderate drought classified 16 counties along the coast and Virginia border.
Parts of the state have received only 25 percent of their usual rainfall and forecasters don't expect significant rain soon, according to the governor's office.
Return to the U.S. Water News Archives page Or Return to the U.S. Water News Homepage
Editor@uswaternews.com
*Your Name:
*Your Email:
*Friend's Email:
Use a comma to separate e-mail addresses:
*Your Comments:
Hi, I thought you might like to read this article.
*Required Fields