Durham weighs tighter water restrictions as drought strains supply

Durham could impose tighter limits on water use if its drought fails to improve, city officials say, as exposed shoreline at Lake Michie reveals the effects of dry conditions. The city remains under Stage 2 restrictions but could advance to Stage 3, which would largely prohibit outdoor watering.

Officials estimate Durham has 78 days of accessible water remaining if no additional rain falls and water stops flowing in from rivers. They also report a total water supply of 147 days. The accessible-water estimate depends on those assumptions about rainfall and river inflows, rather than representing an unconditional countdown.

Stage 2 restrictions have been in place since June 15. Under Stage 3, hand watering and drip irrigation would still be permitted, according to Durham water official James Lim, even as most outdoor water use would be eliminated. City water officials say worsening conditions could prompt that next step.

Lim said officials had hoped a substantial rain event, such as a hurricane, would help replenish supplies, but that rain never arrived. Durham now faces a rainfall deficit of 20 inches, he said. The city is purchasing water from other suppliers and drawing additional water from Teer Quarry.

Those purchases include approximately 9 million gallons each day from Cary, whose water comes from Jordan Lake. Durham is also buying 2 million gallons daily from the Orange Water and Sewer Authority. Another roughly 4 million gallons a day is being pumped from Teer Quarry.

For Dr. Jasmine Pendergrass, who works at Duke Children's Hospital, uncertainty about Durham's water supply influenced where she chose to live. She had wanted to settle in Durham after moving to the Triangle this summer, but a warning from her realtor about the drought led her to choose Cary instead.

Pendergrass said dependable water is also central to her work caring for patients. She pointed to its use in medicine, fluids and sanitation, saying it is necessary both for everyday life and for providing safe hospital care.

Some homeowners want more information about how Durham would respond if supplies became scarce. Shawn Sudaj said he had seen headlines but had not researched the issue extensively. His concern was what would happen if the water ran out and what plans the city had for that possibility.