Starting Wednesday, Holly Springs residents may water their lawns three days a week, and wash their cars and power wash their homes any day they like. The Town Council voted Tuesday to relax the restrictions.

Others are allowing residents to start watering again, too, as a 10-month-old drought eases. On Tuesday, Cary dropped its ban on outdoor watering, allowing residents to water three days a week depending on their addresses. Durham residents can start watering lawns, shrubs and flowers during certain hours Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Raleigh residents and those of six Wake County towns are still waiting for watering bans to be lifted. The Raleigh City Council voted to ease restrictions when the water supply portion of Falls Lake reaches 90 percent of capacity. As of Tuesday, it was at 76.6 percent, up a bit from a week ago.

About 5 1/2 inches of rain fell in March -- 1 1/2 inches more than normal -- and forecasters say showers and thunderstorms are possible today through Saturday.

The new rules in Holly Springs allow residents with odd-number addresses to use sprinklers mornings and evenings Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; those with even-number addresses can use sprinklers mornings and evenings Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays. The town still asks that water customers conserve however they can.