Easley, Michael. Press Release, 2007-09-21, Gov. Easley Says Conservation Must Continue Even With Recent Rain: More Communities Enact Water Restrictions, 4.6 Million Residents Under Conservation Orders

Michael F. Easley Governor State of North Carolina Office of the Governor For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Renee Hoffman Date: September 21, 2007 Phone: 919/733-5612 GOV. EASLEY SAYS CONSERVATION MUST CONTINUE EVEN WITH RECENT RAIN More Communities Enact Water Restrictions, 4.6 Million Residents Under Conservation Orders RALEIGH - Gov. Mike Easley today praised local government officials for heeding his call to impose water conservation measures as North Carolina’s worst drought in recent years deepens. At least 4.6 million residents, more than half the state’s population, are subject to water use restrictions. Easley urged all North Carolinians to continue to conserve water because rain from the remnants of Hurricane Humberto did little to alleviate the drought. “The rain last week certainly helped, but forecasters say we need several months of nonnal to above normal rainfall before we see any improvement in the drought,” Easley said. “We must do all we can to save water now so we do not face even more severe shortages this fall and winter.” Thursday’s federal drought map shows all but three counties in North Carolina remained at the same level of drought. Rain from Friday’s storm helped move Buncombe, Henderson and Transylvania from the worse level of drought, exceptional, to the less severe category, extreme. Ninety-eight of 100 counties are still experiencing exceptional, extreme and severe drought, and only two counties, Carteret and Pamlico, are in the least severe category, moderate drought. Easley sent a letter September 7th to mayors and county commissioners in counties that operate public water systems. He asked those who had not already enacted local ordinances for either voluntary or mandatory water conservation to do so immediately as the drought situation deteriorated across the state. In the past two weeks, the number of system enacting mandatory water use restrictions increased from 64 to 72, and the number with voluntary conservation orders went from 53 to 67. The state Division of Water Resources tracks 593 water systems, including all government-owned systems, privately-owned systems with 1,000 or more connections or serving 3,000 or more people, and privately-owned systems. Those systems provide water for 6.7 million of North Carolina’s roughly 8.5 million residents. Cities and counties that operate water systems are responsible for developing their own water management plans in the event of a drought based on local water resources, current conditions and customer demand. State law gives the governor the authority to take emergency action if a drought threatens public health and safety should that become necessary. On September 14th, Easley announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture had granted his request to designate 85 primary counties and 1 1 contiguous counties as disaster areas due to the drought. The declaration makes low interest Emergency Disaster Loans available to fanners who cannot get credit elsewhere. _ Governor's Press Office State Capitol. Raleigh, NC 27603-8001 (919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005 FAX (919) 733-5166