Southern Rowan, Cabarrus adjust water restrictions

The cities of Concord and Kannapolis continue to monitor water levels of all the streams that provide raw water for treatment and distribution to their customers.

While rainfall has contributed to the rising levels of the water reservoirs, Lake Howell is still more than 3 feet below full pond and stream flows feeding all reservoirs are below normal.

To be prepared for a dry summer season when evaporation is at its peak, it is desired for stream flows to be closer to normal levels and/or for all reservoirs serving our communities to be full.

While irrigation by use of sprinklers and other automated watering devices is still banned at all times, restrictions on watering using a spring-loaded nozzle have been revised to allow limited use.

Water use restrictions for customers of the municipalities of Concord, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Landis and Mount Pleasant are amended effective Saturday, June 14, to allow the following:

The following activities are permitted all day on Tuesday and Saturday:

- Watering of trees, flowers, shrubs, ornamental plants and vegetable gardens for plant preservation.

Watering must be performed with a hand-held hose equipped with a spring-loaded nozzle. The user shall ensure the minimum amount of water used for watering.

The following activity will be permitted on any Saturday at any time effective June 14:

- Residential car washing will be allowed using a hand-held hose or pressure washer equipped with a spring-loaded nozzle.

The modifications to water use restrictions are consistent with other jurisdictions within the Catawba Basin and their Low Inflow Protocol (LIP) as they exceed the current LIP requirements.

The following activities are not permitted under the modifications to the Level III Mandatory Water Restrictions:

- NO lawn watering using any type of system connected to the municipal water system shall be permitted.

- NO irrigation services will be activated. (Irrigation services may be installed; but no meters will be set or activated until the drought has subsided.)

- Filling of swimming pools and operation of ornamental fountains is still prohibited; however, topping off is acceptable.

- Use of water for wash down of outside areas is prohibited except for pressure washing businesses with an appropriate privilege license. These businesses will ensure the waste of water does not occur.

All other restrictions remain in effect.

Officials appreciate the continued efforts of citizens to conserve water; however, without continued rainfall, conditions could change rapidly. Citizens should remain diligent in their conservation efforts. Customers are reminded to pursue projects cautiously given the persistent drought conditions and should remain aware of current water use restrictions as published.

The amendments to the Level III Mandatory Water Restrictions for all Concord, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Landis and Mount Pleasant customers will become effective at 12 a.m. Saturday.