Durham reservoirs fall to 29% full, but estimated water supply holds steady
Durham still has an estimated 78 days of readily accessible reservoir water as conservation and supplemental supplies reduce the strain on its lakes.
Wes Platt
Durham’s reservoirs have slipped another percentage point, but the city’s estimated water supply hasn’t fallen with them.
As of Nov. 12, Lake Michie and Little River Reservoir were at a combined 29% of capacity, down from 30% in the previous update. Durham still estimates it has 78 days of readily accessible reservoir water remaining.
The city’s more detailed calculation now shows 148 days of total supply, compared with 147 days in our previous update.
By the numbers
Durham’s lakes are still losing stored water, but the city is stretching what remains by reducing how much it needs to pull from them.
Durham continues supplementing Lake Michie and Little River Reservoir with water from Jordan Lake, Teer Quarry, and the Orange Water and Sewer Authority.
The rain problem hasn’t changed
The reservoirs still haven’t received meaningful November rainfall.
Through Nov. 12, the city recorded only 0.16 inches at Lake Michie and 0.16 inches at Little River Reservoir for the month. Those totals haven’t changed since our previous update.
Lake levels also continue to decline. On Nov. 12, Lake Michie stood at 327.75 feet above mean sea level, compared with its full level of 341 feet. Little River Reservoir stood at 335.08 feet, well below its full level of 355 feet.
The city has repeatedly stressed that rain elsewhere in Durham or the Triangle doesn’t necessarily replenish the reservoirs. It needs to fall in the Flat River and Little River watersheds that feed the two lakes.
Stage 2 remains in effect
Durham remains under mandatory Stage 2 water restrictions, including the prohibition on spray irrigation with city water.
Hand watering, drip irrigation, and tree or shrub watering bags remain permitted. Vehicle washing with city water is prohibited outside qualifying commercial or institutional car washes, and most washing of hard surfaces also remains prohibited.
Durham hasn’t announced a move to Stage 3.
If Stage 3 is eventually enacted, restrictions would become considerably tighter, particularly for outdoor watering. Hand watering and drip irrigation, which are still permitted under Stage 2, generally would be prohibited.
For now, the latest numbers offer a mixed picture: the reservoirs themselves continue to shrink, but lower demand on those reservoirs is buying Durham more time.
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Wes Platt
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