27 Counties Are Now Classified In Extreme or Severe Drought

The most serious levels of drought have spread from the western part of the state into the Piedmont

August 3, 2007

PIEDMONT AREA COUNTY NC NEWS -- Ninety-four counties in North Carolina are now classified as experiencing moderate, severe or extreme drought conditions. Governor Mike Easley yesterday announced the most serious levels of drought have spread from the western part of the state into the Piedmont, and he has expanded his directive to state agencies in the region to stop various non-essential uses of water. Twenty-seven counties are now in either severe or extreme drought, and the third and fourth level of the five-category national drought monitoring system. The majority of the counties are in moderate drought and are located in the central and coastal plain portions of North Carolina. Only six counties are not under drought conditions. Carteret, Dare, Hyde, Pamlico, Tyrrell and Washington counties are considered abnormally dry.

The governor has expanded his directive to state agencies to take specific water conservation steps in counties currently listed with extreme or severe drought to include:

• Alexander
• Catawba
• Cleveland
• Gaston
• Iredell
• Lincoln
• Mecklenburg

These agencies are directed to stop all non-essential water use and all residents are urged to voluntarily reduce their water consumption by at least 10 percent. These counties join those counties already affected by the water conservation directive, which include:

• Avery
• Buncombe
• Burke
• Caldwell
• Cherokee
• Clay
• Graham
• Haywood
• Henderson
• Jackson
• Macon
• Madison
• McDowell
• Mitchell
• Polk
• Rutherford
• Swain
• Transylvania
• Watauga
• Yancey

Governor Easley said."The good news is that we are seeing some rain and spot showers that are typical for the summer in North Carolina. But the problem is the rainfall is so sporadic that most of the state is bone dry. Until we receive several days of consistent rainfall, residents need to conserve water."

On average, North Carolina communities have received between 50 and 75 percent of the normal rainfall for this time of year. Due to drought, 39 public water supply systems in the state have enacted water use restrictions for residents. Thirty-one water systems have enacted voluntary restrictions, and eight have put in place mandatory water restrictions. The eight systems under mandatory water restrictions include systems in Johnston, Chatham, Union, Wake and Watauga counties.

For information on current drought conditions, check out www.ncdrought.org. North Carolina state agencies that need guidance on water conservation measures should go to www.sustainablenc.org/neguidance.htm.

Published by:
Rob Cross
mailto:editor@357news.com

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