By Megan V. Williams
Wilmington, NC – After more than four months on lockdown, Wilmington's lawn sprinklers and swimming pools could soon be back in business if the city approves an easing of its current drought restrictions.
Wilmington's water officials want to redefine entire scale of water regulations, replacing many currently mandatory restrictions with guidelines and more public education.
Owners of businesses hurt by water use regulations have deluged Wilmington's city council in recent months, complaining of unfair rules and lost business. City officials say the proposed changes grew out of recent meetings with members the landscaping and 'green' industry, as well as surveys of other North Carolina cities on their measures.
Under current Level 2 drought rules, Wilmington water users face a $500 fine for running their lawn sprinklers, washing their cars, or filling their swimming pools.
Since putting mandatory restrictions into effect last October, city officials say they've received nearly a thousand inquiries and reports from the public, resulting in 17 warning letters, but no fines.
If the new rules pass, the new Stage 2 would allow residents who put in new sod a month of unlimited watering before joining their neighbors on a twice-weekly schedule. Golf courses would only have to reduce their water use by twenty percent. And there would be no restrictions on commercial car washes or pressure washers.
Wilmington conservation coordinator Jacqueline Major says she hopes this experience with mandatory limits has raised public awareness of water waste.
The all-or-nothing [approach] was, I think, kind of a shock to a lot of people, including the city once we got into enforcing the restrictions and dealing with the phone calls.
Major says it's time to switch from emphasizing restrictions to promoting efficiency.
We want people to use water wisely, that was the program that we had adopted to help promote our education process for conservation, she says.
But Major does acknowledge that water use will probably rise if the new rules pass.
We're expecting it to go up somewhat, but we're not expecting the big peaks and the spikes in the system that had caused us concern in the past.
Last fall's strict rules did have a swift impact on citizen's water use. Mike Richardson, the city's superintendent of Water Treatment, says consumption dropped thirty percent after the city went to Stage Two restrictions. Current use averages 6-10% below normal he says, because winter is already a low-use season.
Officials are bringing the proposed rule changes to both Wilmington's city council and New Hanover County commissioners over the next two weeks.
New Hanover County does not have any mandatory limits in place right now, but water officials say a uniform response is needed as the two governments continue to consolidate their utility departments. If approved the regulations could take effect by the end of the month.
The state currently lists the Wilmington area as suffering 'moderate' drought conditions.
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Read the proposed rule changes here
Find out more about the city's current regulations and water conservation programs here.
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