City Warns: Stage 3 Water Restrictions May Lie Ahead

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As of Monday, July 13, the City of Durham remains in a Stage 2 water shortage response mode.

But in a statement, city officials indicated that daily demand coupled with recent weather forecasts spell a "strong possibility" for shifting to Stage 3.

Under Stage 2:

• No spray irrigation with city water.
• City water can't be used to wash vehicles except at commercial or institutional car washes that comply with restrictions.
• City water can't be used to wash exterior building surfaces, decks, sidewalks, driveways, roadways, or parking lots, except when cleaning is needed before painting or to address health and safety concerns.
• Customers using more than 100,000 per day are asked to reduce consumption by 30%.

Some exemptions exist, such as allowing residents to use drip irrigation, hand watering, and tree or shrub watering bags. The city also allows watering container plants and commercial plants offered for sale.

Other exemptions cover certain chemical treatments, brief supervised irrigation-system tests, and recreational fields, golf courses, and botanical sites operating under approved water conservation plans.

If Durham shifts to Stage 3, many residents would face a near-total prohibition on irrigation with city water, including that exemption for hand watering plants or using watering bags.

Under Stage 3:

• City water couldn't be used for irrigation, except to water containerized plants and commercial plant stock offered for sale.
• City water couldn't be used for other outdoor purposes, except for emergency fire suppression or activities necessary to protect public health, safety, or welfare.
• Water use for heating and cooling would be reduced in all but the most essential facilities when practical, taking indoor air quality, weather, and health and safety requirements into consideration.
• Motor vehicles could be washed only at commercial or institutional car washes complying with the city ordinance.
• Customers using more than 100,000 gallons per day would be asked to reduce consumption by 50% from their pre-declaration use and document those efforts.

As of Monday's report, Durham had an estimated 87 days of water supply remaining. Recent storms have helped our lawns, but they haven't substantially lifted lake levels.

The city initially recorded a reduction in daily water demand after Stage 2 restrictions took effect June 15. Water use increased again during a stretch of high temperatures in early July, but demand has gradually declined since then.

Durham is supplementing its water supply by purchasing 5.6 million gallons of its Jordan Lake allocation from the Town of Cary.

The city also expects pumping equipment at Teer Quarry to supply up to 4 million gallons of water per day by July 17.

Other city departments are adjusting their operations. General Services and Durham Parks and Recreation are using reclaimed water provided by Water Management to maintain grounds and landscaping.

City water management officials have received 270 reports or complaints involving possible violations since restrictions began June 15. Three violations have been issued.

City staff members are contacting customers named in reports. Durham encourages residents to speak with friends, relatives, or neighbors about the restrictions when they feel comfortable doing so.

Potential violations may be reported through the city’s Water Restriction Violation Report Form or by calling Durham One Call at 919-560-1200.

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