DUers in drought-stricken areas: what kinds of water restrictions are you living with?

[NewWaveChick1981]

We're in a severely drought-stricken area. The city where I live has a large water supply and actually sells water to neighboring towns. However, levels are way, way down, and we received notification in the mail yesterday of mandatory water restrictions. I know many of us are living with such restrictions, and I was curious as to what kinds. Our restrictions:

*Single-family dwellings (like mine) are limited to 11,250 gallons of water a month. We use much less than half of that on a monthly basis, so we are in no danger of running over that. However, we're still going to conserve water no matter what. Going over the limit results in doubling of the water rate and a fine.

*No outdoor watering of any kind unless by hand-held nozzle hose or watering can. "Gray water" can be used to the extent we want to.

*No washing down of driveways or other hard surfaces unless it is for health/sanitation reasons.

*No car washing unless at a commercial car wash (they recycle water).

First offense: $100 fine. Second offense: $200 fine and termination of water service. Third and subsequent offenses: $300 fine for every offense.

I know others are in worse shape. What's your city doing?

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

1. I'm in the Triad ...

and we have the same restrictions. We got a similiar card in the mail last weekend and it said that we only had 145 days of water supply left. It might be lower than that now. It rained Friday and I was excited to see the rain but its not going to be enough. I can only imagination what comes after this.

[Wcross]

2. No restrictions other than no outside burning.

In Nashville (nearest city) they haven't imposed anything yet. In one of the suburbs they have banned outdoor water use and are enforcing it by shutting off the water to offenders homes.

I am on a well so I am conserving as much as possible, one load of laundry a week & short showers.

[stuntcat]

3. none but it surprises me

Counties near mine have restrictions but I don't think our does. It's rained twice in almost 6 months, the second time was just two days ago, after my plants were already giving out, I mean October's half over x( so it was God's sick joke I guess.
Yeah real funny, God, thanks for nothing x(

So no restrictions in Arlington that I know of, I've spent hours sometimes watering all my beds.

[begin_within]

4. The mayor of San Diego is asking everyone to voluntarily

cut back water use by 10%. What he's not saying out loud is, "...so that we can continue to build more and more homes to sqeeze more and more people onto the meager water supply we now have." I call BS on it, and I refuse to cut back on my water usage until they issue a building moratorium along with it. That reminds me, I need to go and water the roses now.

[XemaSab]

5. If they terminate your water service

how can you get a third offense? :shrug:

[lligrd]

6. That Was My Question Too

Cutting off water service for a second offense seems pretty draconian. How long is it cut for? How do you live without water at all?

[XemaSab]

12. I just had a chuckle

thinking the city could come in and replace the pipe going to your house with a smaller pipe for a second offense! :P

[SPKrazy]

7. I live where there is always some degree of concern

if not rationing

often watering odd/even days

not anything as severe as you are talking about with the limited amount of water... however, the car wash thing is almost always in place in summertime as well as burn bans.

:hi:

[TZ]

8. I think that there is a voluntary ban on outdoor watering

where I live, Montgomery County, MD, although I could be wrong. However I do know that the country to the north, Frederick County has just in the last few days imposed mandatory restrictions on outdoor watering. But they have a much smaller water source and many people have wells that are drying up....

[Scooter24]

9. I believe we're only under time-of-day restrictions

meaning until the end of this month, we can't water between 10am and 6pm. It has more to do with the summer heat than actually being under the threat of a drought. Here in TX, we've had an incredible amount of rain this year so many restrictions from last year were canceled in July.

Also, I think we're allowed up to 15,000 gallons and pay a surcharge for excess usage.

[Orsino]

10. Atlanta: total watering ban...

...with exceptions for personal gardening and such. The local reservoir is at its lowest level EVAR.

[hedgehog]

11. From another thread today, I learned that some people are

convinced that

A. Leaving a jet contrail inhibits global warming, so jet contrails have been beefed up for this purpose

But that

B. Jet contrails also inhibit precipitation, thus causing droughts.

It's probably tin hat territory, but consider that the area around Atlanta is in a drought.

[RebelOne]

13. I work across the street from Dobbins in Marietta.

And there are plenty of contrails above my office. Maybe that's why when it's raining in other parts of Atlanta, it's dry here.

[Tyler Durden]

14. I'm sorry I got mad at all of you "Dire Drought" people on Friday.

I was really pissed off because the #1 suggested solution so far (nationwide) has been huge pipelines from the Great Lakes to the Southeast and Southwest, and since we don't have a pot to piss in up in Michigan anymore, that seemed like insult to injury.

I drive through Detroit and Flint a lot. They used to be great and beautiful cities. What the look like now literally breaks my heart. I got into a "Send our Jobs Back and we'll send you water" groove, forgetting it is the rich stinking power elite that has engineered this so as to have the plants closer to Guadalahara, where they make transmissions and engines instead of Ypsilanti and Willow Run supporting Mack Avenue, Lansing Assembly, and GM Flint.

Not your fault. I wish you all rain.

[Midlodemocrat]

15. No watering except on certain days based on your address.

I'm not watering my lawn at all because at this point, I think it's pointless to do so. We had a bit of rain on Thursday, but not nearly enough.

[Connonym]

16. I live within 25 miles of Lake Michigan and we have water restrictions

Even up here where there's a lake or river practically within a stone's throw of anywhere you are we have restrictions on sprinklers and such. I'm not sure how much the fines are.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

17. Wilmington, NC - restrictions

Following are highlights of activities prohibited during a mandatory water restriction:

Watering lawns, grass, shrubbery, trees, flowers, and vegetable gardens except by hand-held hoses, container, or drip irrigation system. A person who regularly sells plants will be permitted to use water on their commercial stock. A golf course may water their greens.


Washing any type of mobile equipment including cars, trucks, trailers, boats, or airplanes. Carwashes may continue to operate.


Washing outside surfaces such as streets, driveways, service station aprons, parking lots, or patios.


Washing the exterior of office buildings, homes, or apartments.


Using water for any ornamental fountain, pool, pond, etc.


Serving drinking water in food establishments such as restaurants or cafeterias, unless specifically requested by a customer.

Our water comes from the Cape Fear river and the situation is not yet dire, but we certainly could use some rain.