GOV. EASLEY ASKS OFFICIALS TO KEEP UP AGGRESSIVE WATER CONSERVATION

RALEIGH ń Gov. Mike Easley today is asking local officials to continue their aggressive water conservation efforts since the drought is not over and a hot, dry summer is still possible. He made the request in a letter sent to mayors and city and county managers today. The text of the letter follows:

ěI am writing to you today for two reasons. First, I want to thank you for answering my call to action to implement tougher water conservation measures during the past several months as the drought worsened. Second, I am asking that we continue our aggressive water conservation since we do not know what kind of weather the summer will bring.

ěWe were fortunate to receive rainfall in March and early April which has helped significantly. As of this morning, all 100 counties are still in some form of drought, with 45 in extreme and 36 in severe. However, even though reservoir levels have risen, our groundwater resources, which help keep our streams flowing, are still extremely low. This makes North Carolina very vulnerable as summer approaches.

ěIn short, there is the potential for exceptional and extreme drought conditions to return this summer and fall, especially with a long-range weather forecast for drier-than-normal conditions through the end of May. Communities that have previously identified alternative water sources or are working on interconnections to backup systems need to move forward with those efforts.

ěThe drought of 2007-08 has taught all of us that we need to do a better job of managing our water resources year round. We are currently putting together a package of legislative proposals which I announced in March to help us modernize North Carolinaís public water systems, mandate water conservation and efficiency, and upgrade the response to water emergencies. My goal is to make our state drought proof.

ěBut we also have to change our attitude about using water and make water conservation a way of life in North Carolina. We have a new web site, SaveWaterNC.org, aimed at helping residents learn what they can do to save water, and we will be expanding our public education efforts about drought throughout the year.

ěWe are all in this together, and by continuing to work together we can assure that the citizens of North Carolina have adequate water resources today and in the future.î