North Carolina drought prompts water restriction warnings

Severe drought conditions in central North Carolina are impacting local businesses and water management strategies. In Durham, officials have warned that water restrictions are likely to persist through the winter. Stage 2 restrictions, which have been in effect since June 15, prohibit the use of automatic and hose-end sprinklers, as well as using hoses to clean driveways, sidewalks, decks, or buildings. More than 400 violations have been reported, though no fines have been issued.

To manage demand on local lakes, Durham Water Resources Manager James Lim stated the city is purchasing water from the Town of Cary to access Jordan Lake allocations and is also extracting water from Teer Quarry. The drought has also affected retail, with businesses like Barnes Supply Company reporting lower sales of seasonal plants due to watering limitations.

In Raleigh, officials report that the water supply remains stable. Falls Lake is currently at 67% capacity, and restrictions in that area would not be implemented until the lake falls to 40%.