June 2007
U.S. Water News Online
WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Another North Carolina water system has imposed mandatory restrictions on residents because of the drought that has depleted water supplies.
New Hanover County has imposed mandatory restrictions on some 7,000 customers in areas north and west of Wilmington. Officials said voluntary restrictions failed to slow the demand caused by homeowners watering lawns and gardens.
"The system is built to meet domestic needs, not to serve as an irrigation system," said Deputy County Engineer Jim Craig.
Residents now are banned from using outdoor sprinkler systems, filling swimming pools, washing cars or homes and using ornamental ponds and fountains.
The average customer uses 13,000 gallons of water every two months, but some are using 120,000 gallons. Officials want to cut water use by 20 percent by the end of July.
The National Weather Service said Wilmington's rainfall total was 4.5 inches for the past three months, and the area is 54 percent below normal precipitation for the year.
Water customers in the city of Wilmington aren't affected by the restrictions. The city draws water from the Cape Fear River, which hasn't been affected yet by drought.
Elsewhere in the state, officials in Fayetteville are working to conserve water by asking residents to water lawns every other day.
Earlier, Union County imposed mandatory restrictions that limit lawn watering to two days a week, between dusk and dawn. Officials there said the water supply problem was caused by residential irrigation.
State figures show that more than 75 percent of North Carolina is in a drought, and seven western counties are extremely dry.
State climatologist Ryan Boyles said North Carolina is facing its worst conditions since 2002.
Gov. Mike Easley expanded his water conservation directive to state agencies to include 17 counties, five more than the 12 he named previously.
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