City of Raleigh cracks down on water restriction violations
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The City of Raleigh has started issuing fines to residents who violate water-use restrictions as central North Carolina continues to deal with severe drought conditions.
City officials said two fines have already been issued to one person for repeated violations.
"This is what I think they would say in law enforcement as a repeat offender, and that is very frustrating," said Raleigh Water Assistant Director Ed Buchan. "The message here is that this is a shared critical resource that we all have to use every day."
Officials say homeowners who repeatedly violate the restrictions could ultimately have their water service shut off.
As drought conditions persist, Raleigh Water has increased staffing focused on both enforcement and public education efforts.
While outdoor watering restrictions remain in place, irrigation systems can still be used during certain permitted times.
SEE ALSO: Water restrictions stage 1 start in Raleigh. Here's what to know
The drought has also created new business opportunities for some companies.
Ed Mutio, owner of Water Works Unlimited, said demand for irrigation systems remains strong despite the restrictions. Mutio recently celebrated 30 years in business and remembers the severe 2008 drought, when restrictions prevented him from installing irrigation systems.
This time, he said, customers continue to call.
"We're busy as we can be," he said. "People are realizing that you can't water a certain amount of time on your schedule. It's hard to water at 10 at night or 5 in the morning."
Raleigh's primary water source, Falls Lake, is about 64% full. Buchan said the lake's level is roughly unchanged from last week, helped in part by rainfall that moved through the area over the weekend.
Still, city officials say significant improvement is unlikely without more sustained rainfall.
"We're not going to be gaining ground most likely anytime soon," said Buchan. "We want people, especially on those non irrigation days, to use the same amount of water they did in March and then that will really help us out."
Officials continue to encourage residents to conserve water as drought conditions persist across the region.
