Group (DMAG) met to review regional water/drought conditions and
discuss whether to recommend changes to Stage 3 water use restrictions
along the Catawba River Basin.
While most of the drought monitoring criteria remains at Stage 3, DMAG
members from North Carolina and South Carolina acknowledged we've
gotten significant relief from the recent rains, and our surface water
supply is healthy as we enter a wetter, cooler time of year. Given
that the fall planting season has arrived (when more frequent
irrigation is necessary to sustain new turf, flowers, trees and
shrubs), the DMAG agreed it would be acceptable if cities chose to
temporarily amend their local restrictions to allow twice-per-week
outdoor water use through November 2008.
Based on today's recommendations from DMAG and Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Utilities Director Doug Bean, Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton has
authorized a temporary amendment to water use restrictions for
customers of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities. Effective at 12:01 AM on
Thursday, September 25, 2008, the new rules are as follows:
Lawn watering, residential car-washing and pool/fountain filling are
permitted no more than two days per week, according to the following
schedule:
* Customers with odd-numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays &
Saturdays.
* Customers with even-numbered addresses may water on Thursdays &
Sundays.
The amended restrictions will expire at midnight on November 30, 2008.
The temporary change comes following the latest rainfall and water
conditions update:
* Catawba lake levels are normal for this time of year, and the
Charlotte region received about 15 inches of rain during the past 60
days (about one-third of our normal average annual precipitation). We
are ahead in rainfall for calendar 2008.
* The U.S. Geological Survey Drought Monitor status has improved
across most of our river basin. While Mecklenburg County's rating
improved from 'severe' to 'moderate' drought last week, a small area
of the basin remains in 'severe' (or Stage 3) status.
* Stream flow & groundwater levels, while slightly improved, still
show Stage 3 drought conditions - a reminder that even with all the
rainfall we've seen in recent weeks, the Catawba region continues
making up for a historic 17-inch rainfall deficit from 2007.
Despite the lingering drought conditions, Duke Energy's data shows one
extra day of water use at this time of year could help sustain new
plant growth without significantly impacting current lake levels or
downstream flows. During its meeting the DMAG emphasized any amendment
to restrictions must be temporary, because our regional drought
response plan requires all four criteria (lake levels, drought
monitor, stream flows and groundwater) to meet Stage 2 conditions
before the DMAG may formally recommend easing restrictions at the
local level.
Charlotte utility officials emphasized that restrictions enforcement
will continue, and we will quickly revert back to one-day-per-week
water use if drought or water supply conditions worsen at any point.
"This drought has reminded us to use only the water that we need, and
to waste nothing," said Maeneen Klein, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities
Water Conservation Manager. "We're encouraging citizens to conserve
all the time - regardless of the weather. And as long as the drought
remains with us, we need folks to keep following the water
restrictions that we have in place."
CUSTOMER REMINDERS: Your watering day ends at midnight. Additional
details about restrictions and water conservation tips are available
at www.cmutilities.com. Customers may also dial 311 or 704-336-7600
for more information.
