Raleigh approves permanent water conservation

RALEIGH The rules apply to all customers using water from the City of Raleigh Public Utilities Department in Raleigh, Garner, Knightdale, Wendell, Zebulon, Wake Forest and Rolesville. Customers using automatic or non-automatic irrigation systems may water their lawn from 12:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for addresses ending in an odd number. Wednesday, Friday and Sunday are watering days for even-numbered addresses. Hose end sprinklers may be operated from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on the same odd and even address schedule as sprinklers systems. No irrigating is allowed on Monday.

All irrigation systems and hose-end sprinklers must be operated to prevent water from being wasted on impervious surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks, streets and parking lots. All area restaurants may only serve drinking water upon a customer request. Hotels and motels must ask guest spending more than one night to use the towels and bed linens more than once between laundering.

A 45-day new landscape irrigation establishment permit may be obtained from the City of Raleigh Public Utilities Department for a $50 fee. The permit allows for the irrigating of new whole-yard first seeding, establishing new sod, or for large commercial plantings.

A first violation of the water conservation rules will result in a written warning, a civil penalty of $50 for a second violation, and $200 for a third violation. A fourth violation will result in interruption of the customer's water service.