Water Conservation Rules

In September 2008, the Raleigh City Council approved permanent everyday water conservation rules as recommended by the Water Conservation Advisory Council. The rules apply to Wake Forest customers and all other customers using water from the City of Raleigh Public Utilities Department, including Raleigh, Garner, Knightdale, Wendell, Zebulon, and Rolesville. 

Customers with addresses ending in an odd number who wish to use automatic or non-automatic irrigation systems may water their lawn from 12 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday are watering days for even-numbered addresses. Hose-end sprinklers may be operated from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the same odd and even address schedule as sprinklers systems. No irrigating is allowed on Monday. 

All irrigation systems and hose-end sprinklers must be operated to prevent water from being wasted on impervious surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks, streets and parking lots. All area restaurants may only serve drinking water upon a customer request. Hotels and motels must ask guest spending more than one night to use the towels and bed linens more than once between laundering. 

A first violation of the water conservation rules will result in a written warning, a civil penalty of $50 for a second violation, and $200 for a third violation. A fourth violation will result in interruption of the customer’s water service. 

For more information, contact the City of Raleigh Public Utilities Department at (919) 857-4540 or the City of Raleigh Public Affairs Department at (919) 890-3100.



STAGE 1 & STAGE 2 MANDATORY CONSERVATION RULES

Under Stage 1 rules, watering with automatic or non-automatic spray irrigation systems or with hose-end sprinklers would be restricted to one day per week - Tuesday for customers with odd-numbered addresses and Wednesday for even-numbered addresses. Also, customers would be restricted to washing their vehicles only on Saturday and Sunday.

Under Stage 2 rules, all types of outdoor watering would be prohibited. Vehicles could be washed only at car wash facilities that are certified by the City for water conservation practices.