NC Gov Mike Easley public address --ALL COUNTIES across NC to go to MANDATORY WATER RESTRICTIONS ...

Gov Easley addressed the Municipalities today at 1pm and explained the severity of the issue facing us statewide. He called on an end to ALL OUTSIDE WATERING(no lawn watering, no car washing, etc.). He called on everyone to cut water usage.

The Governor can implement emergency measures once the water level threatens health and welfare of the citizens --which he made clear today that we are very close to that level.

We are in a real fix in North Carolina. In the Raleigh area we need 12-15 inches of rain to break this drought, and that is not on the horizon.

Even if we got a huge amount of rain, the soil is so dry and compacted that much of the rain would have difficulty soaking through without running off.

We have about 100 days of drinking water left, and all of our neighbors are in the same boat.

And now a winter weather forecast of a 'drier than normal winter'....

of water left. I heard that on the local NPR station this am. :-(

Usually we get a good drenching with a hurricane or two. Not this year. :-(

Evne down to shorter showers and etc.

Such a green and beautiful state too. I sure hope your water, like Atlanta's, isn't going to Florida. I'd stop that right away. Let Florida find their own water.

I don't ever remember it being this bad. Glad I don't live in Greensboro. At least we have Salem Lake and the Yadkin River here in Winston-Salem. I haven't washed my car in 3 months and there's so little grass in our front yard because of the maple trees, we never see fit to water it.

Amazing isn't it..

We have several major population centers in the Continental US that are about to run out of water but you wouldn't notice by watching the MSM.

Just curious: Has NC ever faced a situation like this?

I'm 37.

but nothing like this.

It's truly scary.

The talk of the town here in Connecticut is how dry it has been this year. It was so bad this late summer that the trees are not changing colors before just shedding the leaves due to dryness. Those that do change, change to brown or yellow. The reds are very hard to find this year. :(

Even winter has been wimpy these last few years. The snow fall could be summed up as "Pathetic".

For the first time in the almost 30 years I've lived here, the Cambridge Reservoir is dry. Last years snowfall was almost nil but I hear they're predicting heavier than normal snow for us.

Everything I read indicates the drought will persist and intensify.

I feel ya. It really sucks.

and that the myth of climate change has been debunked :sarcasm:

that the drought conditions are a "cycle" and have nothing to do with Global Warming.

:eyes:

Dust bowl here we come

We had a nasty drought and Hurricanes to boot. We had too much water this year but know one complained. The drought was broken and our aquifers were recharged. My prayers for you.

water turns brown, no water in restaurants unless asked for, no watering, putting bricks in the toilet, watering with sink water, and some ran their hose from the washing machine to the outside for watering,etc. we lived through it and probably we should have kept it up...we should not wait for water shortages..

I'm seriously considering our water usage - I've been entirely too wasteful.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0k8zkbDAsXI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TcDor0rk98

Europe America Africa Australia
its happening NOW

thirsty people get very angry

Here in Texas we'll go on "water hours" and I'll notice that the golf courses are still soaking their greens.

BF works in water treatment, so I get the dirt on H2O. Our water is from the river, but still the situation is still dire.

needed desalination plants, like, yesterday.

I was on vacay in that region recently and the water levels are lower than I've ever seen in my prior visits. The locals are worried.

this drought. Supposedly, our 2 main water supply lakes will run dry by the end of the year if we don't get some heavy rain soon.

They have close a lot of the boat ramps on Lake Norman and other nearby lakes due to the low water levels. Charlotte gets most of its water from Mountain Isle Lake and it is way below normal. They announced mandatory water restrictions a few weeks ago, but it is getting worse.

they said the water level was six feet below normal--that was on Labor Day. :scared:

and surrounding counties. Our reservoir (which serves four counties) is going to be out of water by Christmas unless it rains. We are about to go to indoor water restrictions.
:scared:

I hope that your state government puts out some ideas on how to cut consumption, rather than just telling everyone to cut back. If people aren't used to having to conserve water, they're probably not even aware of how much they waste each day.

in Wilmington, God knows I can't remember the last time I watered my lawn. My kids bathe together to conserve, only if I could keep them from getting dirty in the first place!

We're in dire straits. Worst I've ever seen.

fortunately, we're far enough out in the boonies to be off the county water system. We have a well, but I worry about it all the time. Our biggest problem is lightening strikes when we have rain/thunderstorms. Lightening always seems to take out our pump. We have surge protectors on it, always scramble to turn off the pump when a storm is near, and then there are our teenagers....They suck up all the hot water....with the help of there 9 year old sister....Never water our lawn and I don't know the last time I washed my truck or wife's minivan.....

It is clear from the News & Observer article published on Sept 21, that the drought is expected to last through February of 2008, but our drinking water is scheduled to run out in January 2008.

The only choice left is to make major cuts in water use and conservation, especially among the largest users. We have over 22 users that consume over 100,000 gallons a day --including the two major hospitals, two pharmaceutical companies, a country club, and the City of Raleigh itself which uses 200,000 gallons/day.

The government and business leaders are worried about the effect on businesses -- people losing their jobs because businesses cannot get the water they need to operate, AND other potential companies locating here are watching the situation very closely.

However it time to act. Here is the Sept 21 article, and things are much worse since this was published.


http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/711274.html

"Water crisis plan in works"

Published: Sep 21, 2007 12:30 AM

Raleigh is asking major water customers to plan for emergency conservation

"In anticipation of a prolonged drought, the city of Raleigh plans to ask all major water users to prepare conservation strategies for water emergencies.

The request will go out within two weeks to about two dozen businesses, government entities and other Raleigh Public Utilities customers that use at least 100,000 gallons of water a day, said Ed Buchan, a water conservation specialist for Raleigh Public Utilities.
<snip>

By pushing tougher conservation, city officials will try to avoid steps that would make Raleigh unattractive for large businesses and new industry. Raleigh is competing to attract new business to spur economic development.
<snip>

North Carolina's drought is expected to stretch until February. Forecasters say it will take up to 24 inches of rain to restore rivers, reservoirs and groundwater to normal levels.
MORE

Some of the businesses that are among Raleigh's biggest water users:
* Ajinomoto AminoScience
* Cargill
* Carolina Country Club
* ERP Operating Limited Partnership
* Highwoods Properties
* Mallinckrodt
* Parker Management
* Pepsi Bottling Ventures
* Reddy Ice
* Rex Hospital
* United Dominion Realty Trust of North Carolina
* WakeMed Health and Hospitals

Many rural residents across the State of North Carolina have had their wells dry up, some have drilled new wells and now those are running dry.

It is going to hit the crops hard as the sources of irrigation water are at all time lows.

We are facing major economic losses from catastrophic crop damage.

Gov Easley said today if a forest fire broke out we would not have the water to put it out.