Staff report
Kannapolis and Concord will ease their water restrictions to allow the limited watering of plants and residential car washing.
The watering ó permitted all day on Tuesdays and Saturdays ó must be performed with a hand-held hose equipped with a spring-loaded nozzle and is permitted for trees, flowers, shrubs, ornamental plants and “vegetable gardens for plant preservation.”
On the first and third Saturdays each month, between 8 a.m. and noon, residential car washing will be allowed using a hand-held hose with a spring-loaded nozzle.
The amended water-use restrictions apply to Kannapolis, Concord, Landis, Harrisburg and Mount Pleasant and become effective Saturday.
Under those cities’ Level III mandatory water restrictions, the following rules still apply:
– No lawn watering using any type of system connected to the municipal water system.
– No irrigation services will be activated. Irrigation services can be installed, but no meters will be set or activated until the drought has eased.
– The 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.
Meanwhile, Salisbury remains in “Level One” voluntary water restrictions, which were initiated last October in response to Gov. Mike Easley’s call for N.C. citizens to conserve water during the drought.
Water restriction measures in Salisbury are “voluntary” and “encouraged,” according to Salisbury-Rowan Utilities.
Utility officials in Kannapolis and Concord said in a press release Wednesday that recent rains have raised the levels of reservoirs, but Lake Howell is still 3 feet below normal, “and stream flows feeding all reservoirs are below normal.”
“To be prepared for a dry summer season when evaporation is at its peak,” the press release said, “it is desired for stream flows to be closer to normal levels and/or for all reservoirs serving our communities to be full.”
Water flow over Salisbury’s Yadkin River intake is high above the level for which the city would normally go to Level One voluntary restrictions, but the city is continuing with the voluntary conservation mode until the governor says otherwise.
High Rock Lake is only a half-foot below full pond, and Alcoa Power Generating is keeping the level stable to help with fish spawning.
With Salisbury’s voluntary conservation, the following measures are encouraged:
– Limit lawn and ornamental plant watering to that necessary for plant survival.
– Limit irrigation use between hours of 9 p.m. and 4 a.m.
– If possible, defer planting of new trees, plants or lawn seeding.
– If possible, reutilize household water for additional watering.
– Curtail driveway and parking lot wash downs.
– Turn off faucets while shaving, brushing teeth or washing dishes.
– Limit washing machine and dishwasher use.
– Limit non-commercial car washing to Saturdays and Sundays and turn off running hoses during the wash.
– Utilize flow restrictors and other water saving devices.
– Limit showers to 4 minutes.
– Fill pools between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m.