CORRECTION

A front-page story Tuesday incorrectly implied that Apex adjusted its water-use restrictions because Cary had. Apex, which co-owns a water treatment plant with Cary, decided independently to allow lawn irrigation to resume three days a week, depending on one's address, starting this week.

******

Thanks to recent rains, the worst of the Triangle's water restrictions are starting to lift.

It rained 1 inch Monday at the airport, and with Jordan Lake above normal, Cary today is dropping its ban on outdoor watering.

That means you can start sprinkling your flowers, shrubs, trees, and lawn three days a week, depending on your address, if you're in Cary, Apex, Morrisville, the southern part of Research Triangle Park, or Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Those with odd-number street addresses may irrigate Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; those at even numbers may irrigate Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Hand-watering and outdoor washing are allowed any day.

Durham officials are expected to say something today about the possibility of loosening restrictions.

Raleigh residents and those of six other Wake County towns will have to wait awhile -- but maybe not long, depending on the rain.

Falls Lake, Raleigh's water source, is within about 2 feet of full, providing 75 percent of Raleigh's normal water supply.

Raleigh plans to loosen its rules once its supply reaches 90 percent.

That would allow pressure- washing, commercial car washing, the testing of new water connections and the use of low-volume drip irrigation. They prohibit watering by all sprayer systems, hose-end sprinklers and soaker hoses.

The state Division of Forest Resources on Monday lifted a statewide ban on open burning.

And weather forecasters predict rain off and on all week, up to an inch total, with scattered heavy showers and a few thunderstorms possible today and Friday.

"We'll take all we can get," said Mike Strickler, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Raleigh office.

As of last week, most of the Triangle was still in extreme drought. The Triangle's rain deficit since January 2007 is about 9.5 inches, according to the weather service.

Terry Brown, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' senior water control manager in charge of Falls and Jordan lakes, said another hot, dry summer could deplete water supplies again.

"If a repeat of last year's inflows happens again this year, Falls Lake could fall to serious levels in October, even with good conservation efforts," he said.