DURHAM - Lawns and shrubs can start drinking city water again, as city officials Tuesday ended a ban on outdoor irrigation after both its reservoirs reached capacity for the first time since May.

But the city also signaled that the pre-drought days of watering whenever one wants might be over for good.

Durham also ceased buying water from Cary on Tuesday morning. It now has 293 days of easily accessible drinking water, based on average daily demand of 21.7 million gallons and assuming no rain.

WHEN CAN I WATER?

Outdoor vegetation can be watered Wednesdays and Saturdays, but only from 5 to 8 a.m. or 5 to 8 p.m. Cars can be washed any time, but only if less than 30 gallons of water are used.

October was the last time restrictions were this relaxed.

WHAT CAN'T GET WATER?

Driveways, patios, sidewalks or any other outdoor surface unless it's so dirty it poses a health risk. Also, no filling pools or fountains with city water.

IF WATER SUPPLIES DROP AGAIN, WHEN WILL TIGHTER RESTRICTIONS RETURN?

If the Little River and Lake Michie reservoirs drop below 80 percent, watering would be permitted only once a week, according to new "triggers" announced Tuesday.

If the lakes drop below 50 percent, all outdoor irrigation will be banned.

The city had no specific drought response plan when the water shortage struck last year.

Reservoir capacity was at 40 percent when the city moved to limit watering to twice a week. The lakes had dwindled to 27 percent of capacity when outdoor watering went to once a week.

City leaders might decide whether to adopt a system later this year that would allow watering only on certain days, said Vicki Westbrook, deputy water management director.

IS TWICE-A-WEEK TOO LENIENT, GIVEN UNCERTAINTIES ABOUT THE WEATHER?

Westbrook said the city hopes people can do some water-intensive landscaping projects now, before air conditioning use begins to rise.

Large commercial air conditioners require a lot of water to operate, putting additional strain on water supplies during hot months.

"Right now, watering two days a week is a gracious plenty, and it allows people to get some sense of normalcy back to whatever their landscaping needs are," Westbrook said. "We appreciate what [residents] have done to this point, and we want them to continue to be as vigilant as possible and continue to use water efficiently."