Raleigh eases water restrictions

RALEIGH -- RALEIGH -- Beginning Wednesday, Raleigh water customers will be allowed to water their lawn and plants three days a week instead of two.

The City Council voted 7-1 today to return Raleigh to its "everyday rules" that have not been in effect since the summer of 2007. The council also voted to keep the current time restrictions that limit when a water customer can operate a sprinkler system and water with a hose.

In addition to Raleigh residents, the city provides water to the towns of Wendell, Rolesville, Knightdale, Garner, Wake Forest and Zebulon. Under the rules that go into effect Wednesday, odd numbered addresses may water lawns and landscapes on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Even numbered addresses can water Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Sprinkler systems can only operate between midnight at 10 a.m. Sprinklers that are attached to garden hoses are allowed between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Watering with a hand-held hose is not restricted.

The council added language to its everyday water conservation ordinance that prohibits wasteful use of water, such as watering streets, parking lots, driveways and sidewalks. The ordinance also now prohibits Raleigh city water from being served in restaurants unless a customer requests it. Hotels, motels and breakfast inns now must ask guests spending more than one night to use their towels and bed linens more than once before washing them.

The lone council member to vote against the return to 3-days a week water was Mayor Charles Meeker who feared it would send the wrong message to customers.

"I don't want us to be sending the wrong signal out," Meeker said. "I think the point is do people need to be watering three days a week. The answer is no."

Supporters of the change dismissed those concerns, arguing that recent rains have put the city's water supply in Falls Lake at a healthy level.

"I don't think there's a single person living in the city of Raleigh who doesn't remember the drought," Councilman Philip Isley said. The changes approved today were recommended by the city's Water Conservation Council, a group of seven local experts who were appointed by the council to review Raleigh's water restrictions.

The water conservation council is expected to make additional recommendations to the City Council by the end of the year.