RALEIGH: No automatic irrigation systems can be used any day. Beginning Feb. 15, no hose-end sprinklers or watering by hand-held hoses will be allowed. No new landscape establishment permits will be issued. Drip irrigation will be allowed only for those in the commercial plant trade. Watering by a can or bucket will be allowed as long as water comes from inside the home, reclaimed water or rain barrels.

CARY: All irrigation systems, sprinklers, or other automated watering devices are banned. Hand watering is still allowed any day of the week as long as a person is physically holding the watering device, such as a hose.

CLAYTON: No irrigation is allowed any day of the week. The prohibition applies to automatic systems and hand watering with a hose or bucket. Installation of new sod or new grass seed is also banned.

ORANGE WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY: Spray irrigation with OWASA drinking water is not permitted, except by those engaged in the sale of plants. Irrigation by underground, drip irrigation, micro-spray, low-precipitation bubblers, soaker-hose systems with automatic shutoffs, or by hand-held hoses or watering cans is limited to a maximum of one-half inch of water applied to plant material in any given week.

DURHAM: No watering or sprinkling of any lawn or grass allowed. Watering of trees, ornamental shrubs or vegetable gardens allowed by hand-held container on Saturdays, between the hours of 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. or 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

JOHNSTON COUNTY: County water customers are banned from using automatic irrigation systems. Homeowners may use hand-held hoses on the weekends.

NOTE: Irrigation using reclaimed water, well water or collected rainwater is generally unrestricted. Raleigh's policy applies to water customers in Garner, Knightdale, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell and Zebulon.