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Governor Purdue Proclaims July as Smart Irrigation Month

On June 14, North Carolian Governor Beverly Purdue proclaimed July as Smart Irrigation Month. In conjunction with Governor Purdue’s proclamation, residents are asked to continue to be mindful of their outdoor water usage and to follow the City of Durham’s Year-Round Water Efficiency Ordinance. The hot, unseasonal weather that Durham has been experiencing recently has caused many residents to increase their outdoor irrigation. While added irrigation may be necessary on some of the overly-hot days, please remember to readjust your irrigation habits as weather conditions dictate. The outdoor irrigation schedule applies to any spray irrigation system and allows customers with addresses that end in an odd number to water on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Customers with even-numbered addresses are allowed to water on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday. No watering is allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. any day and no watering is permitted on Mondays. Hand-watering and drip irrigation systems are not restricted by this ordinance. Temporary licenses are available for the establishment of new landscapes. Visit www.DurhamSavesWater.org for more information.

Current Conditions

Days of Supply

Using the 30-day running average demand as of July 29, 2010 of 30.37 MGD:

• Days of supply of easily accessible, premium water remaining (Lake Michie, Little River Reservoir): 208 days
• Days in Teer Quarry storage remaining: 12 days
• Days of less accessible water below the intake structures remaining: 40 days
• Total days of supply = 260

Demand

View a graph of recent demand

Demand July 29, 2010	Month-to-Date Average	July 2009 Average
26.77 MGD	30.54 MGD	29.89 MGD

 

Lake Elevations

Lake Michie Elevation: 340.90 feet, mean sea level.
Lake Michie is full at 341.00 feet, mean sea level.

Little River Reservoir Elevation: 354.90 feet, msl.
Little River Reservoir is full at 355.00 feet, msl.

View a graph of this month's lake levels.
View comparative graphs of historical lake elevations.

Streamflow

The Flat River feeds into Lake Michie and the Little River feeds into Little River Reservoir. Linked below are the real-time flow rates of these rivers:
Flat River**
Little River**

 

Durham's Year-Round Irrigation Schedule is in effect.

• Odd-numbered addresses may water once on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays either before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
• Even-numbered addresses may water once on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays either before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
• No watering may occur between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on allowed watering days.
• No customers are permitted to water on Mondays.
• Temporary licenses will be allowed to establish new landscapes. (Download the License Application here)
• Hand-watering and drip irrigation systems are not restricted.

Get details regarding our year-round irrigation efficiency requirements.

View the Water Conservation Ordinance

The Department of Water Management is currently accepting comments on the draft Water Shortage Response Plan. Please review the plan and submit comments via email or by using our online form.

Water Conservation Tips

Click here to report a violation of the water conservation restrictions.