TOWN OF CARY EXTENDS SUSPENSION OF OUTDOOR WATERING THROUGH FEBRUARY

Town will revisit water restrictions at winter’s end

CARY, NC – With the weather forecasts continuing to call for warmer temperatures and below average rainfall this winter, the Town of Cary is extending the ban on use of irrigation systems, sprinklers, or other automated watering devices for all Cary utility customers until at least February 29.  Hand watering, pressure washing, and car washing are still allowed any day of the week, but the Town is urging everyone to continue to be conscientious about water usage.  The ban on automated outdoor watering does not apply to reclaimed water system customers or citizens who irrigate with wells, nor does it impact the government’s ability to maintain safe surfaces at its fields.  Outdoor washing, while discouraged, is also still okay.  These changes to Cary’s year-round alternate day watering rules went into place on November 1.

Regarding Governor Easley’s call today for water systems to implement tiered rate structures, the Town of Cary has used tiered rates since 1998 as part of its comprehensive approach to preserving and protecting finite natural resources.

“While we have been very pleased with the work that our citizens have been doing to conserve water, the extended forecast continues to call for warmer temperatures and below average rainfall,” said Interim Public Works and Utilities Director Mike Bajorek.  “We are really taking this step to prepare our community in case water levels drop off during the winter.  In February, we will reassess the levels at Jordan Lake and our current conservation measures.”

For its part, the Town of Cary has:

• Suspended all vehicle washing not directly needed for maintenance—such as removing mud from undercarriages, or for public health—such as washing down garbage trucks
• Shut down all ornamental fountains except for maintenance
• Switched to using reclaimed water for street sweeping
• Suspended firefighter training requiring water as well as postponed annual testing of fire hoses and fire hydrants
• Stopped irrigating all playing fields not served by lake, pond, well, or reclaimed water with the exception of one field at the USA Baseball complex and three fields at SAS Soccer Park, all of which are required under contractual agreements to be maintained

The Town plans to keep the ban on automated irrigation in place until the region experiences meaningful relief from the drought.  Reducing these tighter conservation measures will be based on a variety of factors including the level of Jordan Lake, water plant operations, the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council drought classifications, and weather forecasts.  As of Monday, December 17, users of water from Jordan Lake, including Cary, Apex, Morrisville, and Research Triangle Park South, have a combined 385 days of water supply remaining from Jordan Lake.

For complete details on the Governor’s call for water conservation measures, visit the Office of Governor Easley at http://www.governor.state.nc.us.  For more about the Town of Cary’s water supply, demand and comprehensive conservation efforts, click on the H20 icon at www.townofcary.org.

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