LeakBird

(Jan. 11, 2009, The Hickory Record)

The U.S. Drought Monitor shows a small area in the upper basin in abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions.

The long-term trends for groundwater levels continue to show gradual improvement, even though they remain below normal for this time of year.

The six-month average of area stream flows improves to slightly above 65 percent of the historical six-month average and is in a State 1 LIP drought level.

The reservoir storage index holds steady at above-target storage levels and remains in normal conditions.

Restrictions put in place September in Hickory will remain unchanged despite the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group reclassifying the basin to Stage 2 drought status. Those restrictions are:

Residential Car Washing

• Vehicle washing is allowed one day per week with use of a manned hose, a spring-loaded nozzle and bucket.

• Old or failed spring loaded nozzles should be replaced to ensure that the minimum amount of water necessary is used.

Pressure Washing

• Residential pressure washing by a citizen on his/her property is allowed one day per week with the prior notification to and approval from the responsible water provider. Residents will be required to provide the date, time and address where the pressure washing will occur.

• Commercial businesses and/or pressure washing contractors are allowed to perform pressure-washing projects with prior notification to the responsible water provider. Businesses/contractors will be required to provide the date, time frame and address for each project they intend to perform.

Lawn Irrigation

• Customers will be allowed to irrigate or water lawns two days per week between the hours of 7 and 11 a.m. or 7 and 10 p.m. based on the following schedule:

• Customers with addresses in northeast and southwest Hickory, including Mountain View, and customers in the Sherrills Ford community and the town of Catawba — Tuesdays and Fridays.

• Customers with addresses in northwest Hickory and Conover, Claremont and Maiden — Wednesdays and Saturdays
• Customers with addresses in southeast Hickory, Alexander County and the Icard Township Water Corp. service area — Thursdays and Sundays

• Customers in Valdese and Morganton with odd-numbered addresses — Tuesdays and Saturdays

• Customers in the Valdese and Morganton with even-numbered addresses — Thursdays and Sundays

• Athletic fields may irrigate two days a week with the schedule approved by the water provider

• All lawn irrigation should be performed in a responsible manner and in no event should irrigation exceed one inch per week including any rain received.

Ornamental Fountains

• Ornamental water fountains dependent upon municipal water may be operated at the minimum level necessary to ensure structural and mechanical integrity.

Landscape Watering

(trees, flowers, shrubs and vegetable gardens)

• Trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetable gardens may be watered between the hours of 7 to 11 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m. daily. Minimum amount of water necessary shall be used.

• Watering must be preformed with a manned hose equipped with a spring-loaded nozzle, drip line or soaker hose.

Related posts:

1. New Water Ordinances for Durham, North Carolina Residents: $250.00 Penalties (DurhamMyNC) (May 5, 2009, Durham MyNC) Starting June 1, Durham residents...
2. Water Rationing Comes to St. Helena in Napa County, California (MercuryNews) (Jan. 19, 2009, The Mercury News) A Napa County town...
3. Water Restrictions Approved for Santa Cruz, California: Steep Fines of Up to $500.00 (MercuryNews) (April 28, 2009, The Mercury News) Water restrictions will begin...
4. Tiered Water Rates Coming to Raleigh, North Carolina (News&Observer) (Feb. 3, 2009, News & Observer) The Raleigh City Council...
5. Leaders to work on new water pact in North Carolina (Dec. 13, 2008, The Ashville Citizen-Times) Asheville and Henderson County...