Pittsboro, NC – TriRiver Water customers in the Chatham County North District will be under water restrictions starting Monday, June 15.
No other TriRiver Water customers will be under water restrictions at this time. Source waters for Sanford, Pittsboro, Siler City, and the other Chatham County districts are not at water restriction levels.
However, Chatham County North District is partially supplied by the City of Durham, and by contract when Durham enacts water restrictions any district using its water must abide by the restrictions.
Chatham County North District is located in the north and east of Chatham County – starting at the Chatham County border with Orange and Durham counties including Carolina Meadows and Governors Village and extending down along the county border with Wake and Harnett counties.
Chatham County North District uses approximately 800,000 gallons of water per day from the City of Durham. That’s about 30 percent of the district’s total daily usage.
Durham gets its water from Lake Michie and Little River Reservoir. The water level at those locations has dropped due to limited rainfall, warm temperatures, and increased water demand.
A stage 2 water shortage response requires mandatory water conservation steps that help reduce demand and protect the system’s ability to continue providing safe, reliable water service.
TriRiver Water understands that water restrictions can be inconvenient, especially during warm weather. However, these measures are an important part of protecting the region’s shared water supply and ensuring water remains available for essential needs, including drinking water, sanitation, fire protection, hospitals, schools, businesses, and other critical services.
Stage 2 Restrictions
The stage 2 restrictions, as defined by the City of Durham include the following required actions:
Spray irrigation is prohibited. Customers may not use spray irrigation systems to water lawns or landscapes.
Hand watering, drip irrigation, and tree or shrub watering bags are allowed. Customers may continue to water using these methods, as long as water is used efficiently.
Vehicle washing is restricted. Customers may not use water from the system to wash vehicles at home. Vehicle washing is only allowed at commercial or institutional car wash facilities that meet applicable efficiency requirements.
Surface washing is restricted. Customers may not use system water to clean or wash exterior building surfaces, decks, sidewalks, driveways, roadways, parking lots, or other paved areas. Exceptions may be allowed when cleaning is needed before painting or repainting, or when there is a health or safety concern.
Decorative water features are limited. Customers may not add water to decorative fountains, pools, or ponds unless the water is recycled.
Restaurants should serve water only upon request. Restaurants and similar establishments should not automatically serve water unless a customer asks for it.
Pools and wading pools may only be refilled as necessary. Customers may add water only to replace losses from evaporation or spillage and to maintain required chemical feed equipment.
Large water users must reduce usage. Customers using more than 100,000 gallons per day are asked to reduce water consumption by 30% from pre-declaration levels and document those efforts.
Enforcement of these restrictions is handled by the City of Durham. Durham has different tiers for violations that begin with a warning and increase to a notice of violation and fines of $100 or $250.
These restrictions will remain in effect until the water shortage stage is changed or lifted.
Working Together to Conserve Water
Every customer can help during this water shortage by using water carefully and avoiding unnecessary outdoor use. Simple steps such as fixing leaks, running full loads of laundry and dishes, taking shorter showers, and turning off the tap while brushing teeth can make a meaningful difference when practiced across the community.
TriRiver Water will continue to monitor the situation and share updates as more information becomes available.
For more information, customers can contact TriRiver Water Customer Service at 919-775-8215.