Reidsville prepares to enact water restrictions

Reidsville, North Carolina, is preparing to put voluntary water restrictions in place as a prolonged drought drains Lake Reidsville, the city's main water source. City leaders told the Reidsville City Council on Tuesday night that the city is moving to a Stage 1 Water Restriction Alert under its emergency water conservation plan. The City Council will give residents 24 hours' notice before the restrictions begin.

Public Works Director Mourice Brothers said Lake Reidsville is about 3.1 feet below normal for this time of year and has been falling steadily. The restrictions are voluntary and meant to last at least 30 days. The city's goal is to reduce daily water use by 2%. Brothers will check the water supply at least every seven days and report on the lake level to the city manager while the alert is in effect. He described the first stage as mainly educational, and said the aim is to conserve water now, protect essential services, and lower the risk that tougher measures will be needed later.

Residents are being asked to take shorter showers, run laundry and dishwashers only when necessary, and cut back on lawn watering. Brothers said he does not expect farmers to be affected, since most have their own water supply. He does expect lower sales of grass seed and fertilizer, especially to landscaping companies. He also acknowledged that conservation can only do so much, and that the city is hoping for rain.

The drought is severe across the area. The U.S. Drought Monitor reports that about 90% of North Carolina and the entire Piedmont Triad are in some level of drought, and Rockingham County is the hardest hit county in the state, with about 99% of it in extreme or exceptional drought. Reidsville's move comes as neighboring cities take similar steps. Greensboro began its own voluntary Stage 1 conservation measures on Wednesday, with its reservoirs at about 63% of capacity, close to the 61% level that triggers them. Greensboro is also buying water from nearby communities to keep its supply steady.

Rockingham County has not issued any restrictions or requests. A county spokesperson, Daniel Crews, said county water customers are not affected, because the 550,000 gallons a day the county gets from Reidsville remain unrestricted. Reporting comes from WGHP FOX8, WFDD and FOX8.