Charlotte-Meckenburg Utilities posted the following on their website today:
One day per week lawn watering OK starting Saturday, April 5 2008
Following the latest drought update and continued reports of improving water supplies along the Catawba River, water use restrictions in Charlotte-Mecklenburg will be amended to allow lawn watering one day per week, starting this weekend.
Effective at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, April 5, the amended restrictions for all Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities customers are as follows: Lawn watering, including the operation of a sprinkler system, is permitted one day per week.
> Customers with odd-numbered addresses may water lawns on Saturdays.
> Customers with even-numbered addresses may water lawns on Sundays.
REMEMBER: Your watering day ends at midnight.
All other restrictions remain in effect - residential car-washing, refilling of empty swimming pools and operation of ornamental fountains are still prohibited activities.
The amended restriction on lawn-watering follows yesterday's drought and water supply update by Duke Energy during a meeting of the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group (DMAG), and a DMAG news release issued yesterday afternoon stating that all members agreed moving to allow one day per week of lawn watering is an appropriate step at this time.
The DMAG includes nearly 2 dozen community water systems and other significant water users between Lenoir, N.C. and Camden, S.C. During yesterday's DMAG meeting, Duke Energy confirmed lake levels are in relatively good shape for the time being, the U.S. Drought Monitor status has improved slightly and stream flows are looking better. Allowing one day per week of lawn watering is permissible within the regional drought response plan's Stage III restriction guidelines.
Updated restrictions for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities customers were subsequently recommended by Utilities Director Doug Bean and formally authorized today by Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton. The move replaces an outright ban on lawn watering enacted first along the Catawba basin by Charlotte-Mecklenburg on September 26, 2007 - a time when water supply levels were dropping rapidly due to high temperatures and persistent lack of rainfall.
"Conservation is still critical but things are looking up," said Maeneen Klein, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities Water Conservation Manager. "We remain in the same stage of drought, but the combination of improved lake levels, Drought Monitor and stream flows is enough to amend restrictions for now and still remain consistent with the regional drought response plan. Another shift in the weather may require us to tighten the rules again later, but for now allowing limited lawn watering is a reasonable step that balances environmental and water supply needs with business and economic needs."
Mandatory details and conservation tips are available at www.cmutilities.com. Additional water-saving information is available at saveyourwater.org. Customers may also contact the City-County customer service center by dialing 311 or 704.336.7600.
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