CFPUA has issued a voluntary water conservation advisory for customers in all parts of its service area, effective immediately Friday, May 21.
While the advisory remains in effect, customers are asked to take steps to reduce their water consumption, particularly during outdoor irrigation. The advisory will remain in effect until further notice.
An extended period of dry, hot weather had led to higher demand across CFPUA’s water systems. Precipitation in the Wilmington region since March 1 was 5.49 inches below average as of Thursday, May 20, according to the National Weather Service. As of May 11, the drought intensity level for our region was elevated to Category D1 (Moderate Drought) by the NC Drought Monitor and the National Drought Mitigation Center.
This advisory is being issued to help ensure water remains available for all customers and for essential services such as fire protection. Depending on conditions, this advisory could be escalated to a mandatory water restriction advisory.
To save water during irrigation, CFPUA recommends that customers irrigate only between midnight and 6 a.m. and on the following days, according to the street address:
- Mondays: No watering.
- Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays: Homes with odd-numbered addresses (e.g., 201 Main St.) may irrigate.
- Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays: Homes with even-numbered addresses (e.g., 202 Main St.) may irrigate.
The chart below outlines recommended practices for outdoor water use during a voluntary conservation advisory:
Lawns need an average of just one inch of water per week – including rainfall – to remain healthy.
Customers can also find additional water conservation tips at CFPUA.org/Conserve.