TOWN OF CARY STEPS UP VIGILANCE AS WATER USAGE SPIKES TO ALL-TIME HIGH

Water usage topped 26 million gallons on Tuesday

CARY, NC – With the current hot, dry weather leading water customers to all-time water demand records, the Town of Cary is stepping up enforcement of the Town’s year-round, alternate day outdoor watering (ADW) and Water Waste laws, which went into effect in May 2000.  On May 26, 2007 , total usage jumped dramatically when customers took 25.2 million gallons of water from the Cary-Apex system; then on Tuesday, the usage hit a record high of 27 million gallons per day.

Citizens can expect to see an increased number of Town staff out and about, especially at night, in the early morning, and on weekends looking for opportunities to help irrigators abide by the watering rules.  The ADW rules allow customers to use automatic irrigation systems and sprinklers three specified days per week: even numbered addresses can water on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Odd numbered addressees can water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.  No automated watering is allowed on Mondays, but hand-watering is allowed any day of the week.

Because of their water supply contracts with Cary , citizens in Morrisville as well as the Wake County portion of the Research Triangle Park and the Raleigh-Durham International Airport must abide by the mandatory alternate day and water waste rules, although RDU does have discretion over using the water they draw from their private wells.

Given the importance of preserving finite resources, Cary ’s mandatory watering program comes with tough penalties – for first offenders, two warnings are issued.  Citations will follow for subsequent violations, carrying civil penalties of $100 for the first citation, $250 for the second, $500 for the third, and $1,000 for each subsequent citation.  In addition to or in lieu of civil penalties, violation of the alternate day watering law is a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable for each violation by a fine of up to $500 and/or incarceration for up to 30 days.  And if all else fails, the Town Manager has the authority to suspend a customer’s water service—in whole or in part—if he determines that an imminent water emergency exists and/or that the customer has failed to comply with the alternate day watering program on numerous occasions.

"While we can and will fine violators if left with no other option, our goal is compliance by educating citizens on the importance of following the Town’s watering ordinances,” said Interim Public Works and Utilities Director Mike Bajorek.  

In an effort to help keep water usage from continuing to go up, the Town will begin using and training current staff to be vigilant about improper water usage and educate citizens on the ordinances as part of an increased field presence.  Town of Cary employees will work in the evening hours and on weekends throughout Town to help promote Cary ’s ADW and Water Waste ordinances in an effort to help decrease demand.

Earlier this month, Cary kicked off its annual Beat the Peak campaign, “Hesitate Before you Irrigate,” which reminds citizens of the Town’s three, year-round water ordinances aimed at decreasing demand by conserving water, including: Alternate Day Watering, Water Waste and Rain Sensor ordinances.  As part of the Water Waste Ordinance, residents are not permitted to irrigate on impervious surfaces such as streets and driveways and water their landscape to the degree that it causes runoff down curbs and into stormdrains.  Lastly, the Rain Sensor Ordinance requires a rain sensor set at ¼ inch on all automatic irrigation systems.   

Also part of the Beat the Peak campaign, the Town will distribute more than 40,000 postcards to Cary and Morrisville utility customers with tips on how to reduce water use and a reminder of all three water ordinances. Also, nearly 10,000 conservation slide guides with tips on how to conserve water will be distributed throughout Cary and Morrisville in June.  Water ordinance reminders have begun running on local radio stations and citizens can also watch special segments on water conservation on Cary TV 11 in June.  These publicity efforts are in addition to newspaper reminders that the Town is running in May and June.

Citizens can monitor the daily water demand online as well as access other important information by visiting the Water Conservation section at www.townofcary.org.

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