Cities across central NC have implemented restrictions as primary water sources, mainly lakes, continue to drop.
Durham, which already had some restrictions in place, is now getting tougher to protect its water supply.
Bull City leaders say Stage 2 mandatory water-use restrictions will go into effect for customers starting on Monday, June 15.
This is because of ongoing dry conditions and declining reservoir levels that have reduced available water supply, Durham leaders say.
City data shows water sources are dropping as demand and use have gone up, leading to a reduction in the available water supply. The city's water sources include Lake Michie and Little River Reservoir.
Durham resident Michael Forhez is carefully rationing water in his planted garden as drought conditions persist across the region.
"I'm trying to be judicious with the amount of water they get enough to keep them going," he said. "Not so much that we're stressing the system."
Forhez replaced his traditional lawn with a lower water garden, but he said even drought-tolerant plants need attention in the current conditions.
"We're conserving water where we can," he said.
He said the heat is manageable for his plants, but the lack of rainfall has been unusual.
"We're used to having thundershowers by now and having adequate water to ensure the property and our gardens and our parks are all flourishing. So it is a little bit jarring, to be quite candid," Forhez said.
Lawn care companies are also feeling the strain. Jonathan Womack of Macks Lawn Care Service LLC said the dry conditions are already affecting their work.
"The lawns are not getting water properly. So some of our properties we have to skip," he said.
Skipping scheduled mowing can help prevent further damage to stressed grass, Womack said. Cutting already dry lawns, he added, can worsen the problem. If the drought continues, he worries the impact will grow.
"Nothing can grow without water. So if nothing's getting water ... then we can't manage the properties. So that's where it kind of hinders us," he said.
As the drought shows few signs of easing, residents and lawn care workers alike are bracing for continued challenges.
Durham Stage 2 restrictions dos and don'ts
- There are no watering days under Stage 2. Spray irrigation with city water is prohibited.
- Hand watering, drip irrigation, and tree or shrub watering bags are still allowed.
- Spray and in-ground irrigation of landscapes with city water is prohibited.
- Don't add water to decorative fountains, ponds, or pools unless the water is recycled.
- Don't use city water to wash vehicles, except at a commercial or institutional car wash.
- Don't use city water to clean sidewalks, driveways, decks, or building exteriors, except for a health or safety issue, or before painting.
- Pools & wading pools: You can add water only to replace evaporation or spillage and to keep chemical feeders running.
Restaurants and businesses
- Restaurants are allowed to serve drinking water only when a customer asks for it.
- Businesses that use more than 100,000 gallons a day are being asked to reduce use by 30% and document the efforts.
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