CARY WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTED IN
PBS DOCUMENTARY

CARY , NC – The Town of Cary ’s nationally recognized water conservation program is being featured as a success story in the television documentary Troubled Waters: The Illusion of Abundance airing statewide at 8 p.m. tonight on UNC-TV.  Cary’s is the only water conservation program to be highlighted in the hour-long show, which details the Town's comprehensive, three-fold approach--education, incentive, and regulatory measures.  

Based on the Council-adopted Water Conservation & Peak Demand Management Plan, primary elements of Cary ’s regulatory approach include:

§        Year-round alternate day watering law

§         Rain Sensor law

§         Water Waste law  

Primary elements of Cary ’s incentive approach include tiered water rates for both residential and non-residential customers to encourage conservation; it includes lower priced tiers for below-average and normal use as well as a high-priced penalty tier for high consumption.  Primary elements of the Town’s year-round education and outreach include:

§         Block Leader Program: grassroots environmental educators-resources for their neighbors. The Town provides conservation information and promotional materials for volunteers to distribute to neighbors.

§         Beat the Peak: the annual summer (May-Oct) water conservation education campaign involves direct mailings; articles in BUD (utility bill newsletter) and segments on BUD-TV; newspaper, radio and TV advertisements; workshops; and the Town's Web site. Staff members are available to advise individual homeowners and business people on using water efficiently and to speak to civic groups.  Memorable Beat the Peak promotions include the tuna can plan, Johnny Gauge, Irrigate Intelligently starring Cary twins Cindy and Sam Strowbridge, Think Before You Water, and Conserving Water Yard By Yard. 

§         In the winter, Cary ’s water conservation education goes inside to focus on ways to reduce consumption indoors.

§         Track individual as well as system water demand figures via the Web.
                                                             
The Town of Cary established its full time water conservation program in 1996 within the Utilities Division of the Public Works & Utilities Department to efficiently manage Cary 's water resources and to decrease reliance on outside sources.  While several jurisdictions provide some water conservation information as needed, Cary is one of only four municipalities in NC with a full time water conservation program.  Others are Durham , Greensboro , and Charlotte .  

Produced by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington , Troubled Waters explores the global, national and statewide crisis regarding water and features several programs that are making a difference.  In addition to being shown on UNC-TV stations across the state, copies of the video will be available at North Carolina public school systems and libraries. The documentary project also includes an educational Web site featuring lessons and activities designed for educators and students. Another valuable part of the Web site is the resource section containing references to related books, articles, Web sites; international, national and state agencies; conservation tips; and examples of entities that are water wise.  

For more details on water conservation or other environmental initiatives in the Town of Cary , visit www.townofcary.org.  

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