North Carolina Governor Easley Releases Local Data On North Carolina Water Use

‘Operation Halve It’ Shows Citizens Are Answering The Call

11/8/2007 -- Raleigh - North Carolina Governor Mike Easley announced today that water utilities representing 72 percent of the 6.8 million customers served by public water systems responded to his call to provide information on water use. Early indications, based on an analysis of information from the 25 largest systems in the state, show an average drop in daily water use of nearly 30 percent from the month of August compared to the last week of October.

''I appreciate the cooperation of everyone in the state in their efforts to conserve and provide this important information,'' Easley said. ''The data collected last week, which will continue to be collected through the drought, will help us track our water use. We now know we can conserve. But it must become habit since it is unlikely the drought will lift anytime soon.''

Two weeks ago Easley asked each of the state’s public water systems to increase reporting to the state by recording the amount of water used daily and sending that information weekly to his office. He asked North Carolinians to try to cut their water use by as much as 50 percent by Halloween.

''My goal was lofty, but all citizens must cut water use as much as they can,'' he said. ''Given the situation nearly all of North Carolina faces, we cannot afford to do any less.'' While some water systems showed significant savings, others reported more modest results. The governor said the information collected is helping identify those regions and systems that must do more to save water and avoid more drastic measures.

The 25 largest public water systems in the state saw some dramatic drops in water use, such as nearly 48 percent in Union County when comparing average daily water use in the month of August to the last week of October, according to data reported to the state Division of Water Resources in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Water systems reported daily water use for October as well as average daily water use for August. The division is continuing to compile water data, both current and past consumption rates, to have an on-going statistical picture of water use and availability in the state’s communities.
Information for the public systems reporting can be found on line at:
http://www.ncwater.org/Drought_Monitoring/reduction/weeklyuse.php for weekly water use, as reported by the water systems and;
http://www.ncwater.org/Drought_Monitoring/reduction/monthlyavereport.php for monthly averages.

Below is a chart that compares daily water consumption for each week in October with the average daily use in August for the state’s largest public water systems.

Today's federal drought map shows that the drought has worsened from last week as dry conditions continue to prevail in North Carolina. Now, 92 counties, 10 more than last week, are categorized in the top three levels of drought: exceptional, extreme and severe. The other eight counties in the coastal plain and northern Piedmont are experiencing moderate drought, the least severe level of drought in the four-category system.

Meanwhile, systems that serve 5.35 million North Carolinians have instituted voluntary or mandatory restrictions on water usage. That means that nearly 79 percent of the residents in the 615 public water systems the state tracks are subject to water use restrictions. The state tracks all local government-owned systems, privately-owned systems with 1,000 or more service connections or serving at least 3,000 people and privately-owned systems on voluntary or mandatory restrictions.

The governor reminds citizen to continue to save water and use these simple conservation tips:
-- Stop watering lawns and shrubbery at homes and businesses; do not wash down homes, driveways or sidewalks; do not wash cars; and restaurants should ONLY serve water when patrons ask.
-- Check your plumbing to be sure it is not wasteful.
-- Check for leaks and repair them. In a typical home, leaks amount to about 15 percent of all household indoor water use.
-- Use indoor water wisely. Turn off water while shampooing, shaving and brushing your teeth to reduce the time water is running.
-- Take time to locate your main water shut-off valve and the water meter in your yard. Knowing where the main shut-off is can potentially prevent the loss of thousands of gallons of water.
-- Use dry cleanup methods to reduce both indoor and outdoor water use. Instead of hosing off your driveway and patio, use a broom to sweep away debris.
-- Take advantage of free water. Catch rainwater from your gutters and use it to water your flowers and vegetables. Collect water from the bath/shower while waiting for it to heat up; use for watering plants.
-- Use appliances wisely. Run washing machines and dishwashers only with full loads to maximize efficiency.
-- Avoid using sink disposals for food scraps.

For more ideas and water conservation information, click on the “Water Conservation Tips” link on the upper right of the governor’s website: www.governor.state.nc.us
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“Operation Halve-It” Water Use Report
Weekly Percent Difference Compared to August 2007, Public Systems with 40,000 or more customers

Facility................Customers.....10/1/07.....10/8/07.....10/15/07.....10/22/07
Asheville/B./H. RWA.....123,760.....-6.42%.....-4.10%.....-7.02%........-11.45%
Brunswick County.........51,170.....-23.04%.....-23.27%.....-26.06%.....-36.54%
Burlington...............56,250........NR..........NR..........NR.......-21.25%
Cary....................124,000......+9.96%.....-10.74%.....-21.99%.....-35.67%
Charlotte-Mecklenburg...700,000.....-33.26%.....-31.14%.....-34.81%.....-36.91%
Cleveland County SD......56,667.....-19.08%.....-17.88%.....-16.51%.....-21.39%
Concord..................68,253.....-26.21%.....-25.22%.....-29.18%.....-30.34%
Davidson Water..........129,695.....-11.58%.....-10.10%.....-13.37%.....-24.52%
Durham..................287,000.....-21.94%.....-20.20%.....-25.95%.....-28.14%
Fayetteville............179,000.....-22.27%.....-20.71%.....-24.29%.....-30.76%
Gastonia.................68,600.....-16.29%.....-17.81%.....-21.33%.....-25.07%
Greensboro..............237,552.....-29.29%.....-22.43%.....-26.49%.....-29.96%
Greenville...............81,058.....-5.68%.....-5.89%........-9.24%.....-16.06%
Harnett County...........79,058.....-23.33%.....-25.26%.....-29.67%.....-35.62%
High Point...............90,492.....-3.53%.....-15.11%.....-18.74%.....-28.59%
Johnston County..........50,001.....-15.82%.....-15.04%.....-18.21%.....-25.17%
Kannapolis...............40,500.....-12.33%.....-11.77%.....-16.71%.....-13.81%
Onslow County...........134,978.....-11.79%.....-9.05%.....-12.49%.....-16.69%
Raleigh.................409,542.....-17.04%.....-16.22%.....-21.89%.....-33.12%
Rocky Mount..............57,158.....-17.60%.....-17.32%.....-24.34%.....-27.32%
Salisbury................44,942.....-15.88%.....-11.24%.....-21.05%.....-28.32%
Sanford..................43,616.....-14.95%.....-12.75%.....-21.95%.....-21.82%
Union County.............76,855.....-29.42%........NR..........NR.......-47.61%
Wilmington..............125,000.....-27.65%.....-23.15%.....-31.33%.....-42.54%
Winston-Salem...........276,849.....-11.62%.....-12.84%.....-18.13%.....-23.64%
TOTAL (avg.)..........3,591,996.....-16.42%.....-16.88%.....-21.33%.....-27.69%