Lincoln County, like many other jurisdictions in the North Carolina Piedmont, has experienced significant rainfall over the last several weeks. Due to this increased precipitation, and the continued prudent use of water by the customers
of Lincoln County Public Works over the past several months, Lincoln County officials are lowering Conservation Measures from the current Stage 2 Mandatory Restrictions to a Stage 1 Voluntary Restrictions for customers of the Lincoln County Water System. A Stage 1 Water Shortage, as defined in the Lincoln County Water Conservation Ordinance, indicates the need to reduce consumption by an amount of 3% to 5% rather than the current 5% to 10%.
However, we strongly encourage our water customers to continue to follow the actions listed below, which are the VOLUNTARY WATER CONSERVATION guidelines as outlined in the Lincoln County Water Conservation Ordinance:
(a) limit car washing – use a hose-end nozzle to avoid wasting water;
(b) limit lawn, garden, and shrubbery watering to the minimum necessary for plants to survive and reuse household water when possible – a healthy lawn needs no more than 1 inch of water per week – water lawns and shrubbery after 10:00 PM or before 6:00 AM to reduce water losses due to evaporation;
(c) eliminate washing down of outside areas such as sidewalks, patios, parking lots, service bays or aprons;
(d) eliminate continuous running of water while shaving or rinsing dishes;
(e) limit the use of washing machines and dishwashers and operate only when fully loaded;
(f) use showers instead of bathtubs for bathing and limit showers to no more than four minutes;
(g) limit flushing of toilets by multiple usage, when possible;
(h) limit hours of operation of water cooled air conditioners, when possible;
(i) use biodegradable and/or disposable dishes to save on dishwashing;
(j) use flow restriction and other water saving devices where possible; and
(k) delay new landscape work until the water shortage has ended.
Drought indicators and demand on our water system will continue to be monitored by the County, and the public will be notified of any changes in the water shortage conditions. Please call Lincoln County Public Works at 704-736-8497 if you have questions.
April 8, 2009