FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                      March 31, 2008

CARY TO LIFT BAN ON OUTDOOR AUTOMATED WATERING APRIL 1

Customers will be able to return to year-round alternate day watering conservation measures

CARY , NC – With Cary ’s water supply – Jordan Lake – well above normal and given that the US Army Corps of Engineers has been releasing more water each day from the lake than during regular operations, the Town of Cary will allow its customers to return to year-round alternate day watering beginning April 1.  Under the law, which has been the minimum conservation standard in place in Cary since 2000, customers will be able to once again water outdoors using automated devices such as irrigation systems and sprinklers three days a week depending on the property’s street address.  Properties with odd number street addresses can be irrigated only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.  Even number addresses may be watered only on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.  No outdoor automated watering is allowed on Mondays.  Hand-watering and outdoor washing of any kind are allowed any day of the week.  Cary ’s rules affect water customers in Cary, Morrisville, RDU, and RTP South. 

Penalties for violating Cary ’s alternate day watering law are significant. The Town will provide a warning for the first violation and a $500 fine for the second.  Subsequent violations are $1,000 each, with a six violation resulting in termination of water services.

“While the region’s drought is not over, February and March rains along with our culture of conservation and the US Army Corps of Engineers’ judicious management of the lake are allowing us to return to our regular program of water conservation,” said Town of Cary Public Works and Utilities Director Steve Brown.  “Of course, we want everyone to continue being very responsible and water wise.”

Brown also cautioned that a return to the ban was possible if conditions significantly deteriorate.  “Right now and for the foreseeable future, we’re in excellent shape and feel very comfortable allowing citizens to return to our normal level of conservation,” said Brown.  “It’s important for everyone to know that we’re continuing to monitor the situation daily, and we will make prudent decisions that preserve and protect our limited resources as well as our citizens quality of life; in Cary, we believe and have demonstrated that both can be responsibly achieved.”

In addition to alternate day watering rules and for more than 10 years, Town of Cary utility customers have to adhere to a water waste law and a rain sensor law.  Cary ’s water waste law prohibits allowing water to run across hard surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks, and streets.  The rain sensor law requires all irrigation systems to be equipped with a functioning sensor that shuts the irrigation system off when rain is falling.

And since 1998, the Town of Cary has used a tiered water rate structure to encourage conservation.  Under the program, the price of water increases with each tier. Efficient and essential water uses are captured in the lower tiers while discretionary use such as irrigation can bump customers into higher, more expensive ones.

Over the years and as part of its comprehensive approach to preserving finite resources, the Town of Cary has also implemented:

• An updated Water Shortage Plan

• A comprehensive water system leak detection program

• Piped and bulk reclaimed water services

• A requirement for separate water meters on irrigation services

• Irrigation system standards and plan review

• Water system Interconnections with Raleigh and Durham and via Durham can assist Orange County

• Giveaways of and rebates for certain plumbing fixture upgrades

“We’re pleased to be able to report that -- thanks to the leadership of our Town Councils and the support of our citizens -- the Town of Cary is already doing nearly every conservation measure suggested by Governor Easley in his March 11 announcement of conservation priorities,” added Brown.

Over the next several weeks, Cary will be launching its annual and nationally recognized “Beat the Peak” summer water conservation campaign.  This year’s theme, Recipe for Success, will offer water customers quick tips on how they can make the most efficient use of water outdoors.

For more about the Town of Cary ’s water supply, demand and comprehensive conservation efforts, click on the H20 icon at www.townofcary.org.   For information from the State of North Carolina , visit www.savewaternc.org.

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