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EDITORIAL: Dry Times In Raleigh Area: Amid Severe Drought, Officials Need to Limit Car Washing, Lawn Watering

Posted on: Thursday, 20 April 2006, 06:00 CDT

By The Charlotte Observer, N.C.

Apr. 20--This editorial was published April 6 in the [Raleigh] News & Observer:

For weeks, as winter's grime built up on cars, pressure was building for Raleigh to lift restrictions on water use. Even so, the ban on driveway car washing has continued for residents of Raleigh and six other Wake County towns served by the city water system.

Let's give credit where it's due. The City Council was right to hang tough. It turns out the rainy season hasn't been all that rainy -- almost a foot below normal, to be exact -- and severe drought is expected through May.

Fortunately, though, a task force reviewing the city's water use patterns has come up a with common-sense plan for conserving this vital resource for the future. Without such a strategy, Raleigh -- and its neighbors -- would be unwise to continue growing at the current rate.

Forgoing do-it-yourself car washes is a small price for keeping reservoirs full as summer approaches. Raleigh reports using 43 million gallons of water daily, but on a hot summer day, the city can gulp down 60 million gallons. The good news is that the task force's broader plan can afford to loosen the restrictions on car washing and other uses.

For example, residents would be permitted to wash their own cars on Saturdays using spring-loaded nozzles that limit water waste. On other days, the task force would ask people to use commercial car washes, which recycle water. While lifting the total ban, the rule would promote a conservation ethic that is generally lacking.

Even in a normal year, it makes sense to limit lawn watering to three days a week. Pure water isn't an unlimited resource, and the task force recognizes that. In fact, providing both drinking water and reuse water is wisely recommended for new developments. A dual system would stretch supplies of pure water while meeting irrigation needs.

In addition to incentive programs for water savers, the task force gives the idea of structuring water rates for conservation a needed boost. Only two years ago, large users got the cheapest rates in Raleigh. Now moving from a flat rate structure to one that charges the largest users the highest rates would be a less drastic change.

Adopting the task force recommendations would make better neighbors of Raleigh and the towns on the city water system.... Already, residents of Cary are using far less water per person by living within a rigorous conservation regimen. Speaking with one voice, Wake County municipalities could more effectively encourage conservation in Durham, which has lifted water-use restrictions.

Both counties are in the grip of rapid growth, and local leaders doubtless want to see that growth continue for the bigger tax base it brings. But the reservoirs undergirding growth are showing signs of stress that shouldn't be ignored. Lake Michie and Little River serving Durham, Jordan Lake serving Cary and Falls Lake serving Raleigh all were drying up last fall before drought took hold.

Wise use of water must become part of the Triangle's value system. As the Triangle's largest city, Raleigh should lead the way.

Editorial Sampler is an occasional feature offering editorial viewpoints from a variety of newspapers. The views are not necessarily those of The Observer's editorial board.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Charlotte Observer, N.C.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)

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