On Oct. 22, Gov. Mike Easley asked North Carolina residents to cut water usage by 50 percent. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Greensboro is in the middle of the area of North Carolina afflicted with the worst drought conditions.

With a daily water demand averaging 28 million gallons, Greensboro residents and businesses have been under water restrictions since Aug. 27.

On Oct. 9, the worsening water shortage forced city officials to impose a harsher set of limitations.

Residents are now forbidden to water lawns and plants or wash cars on any day besides their garbage pick-up day. Penalties range from $100-$200 for residents and $200-$1,000 for businesses. Despite the harsh fines, loopholes have allowed businesses to get away with wasting water.
Several weeks ago, city officials allowed promoters for an RV rally to wash recreational vehicles at the Greensboro Coliseum without being penalized for the water used. The News and Record reported that it took anywhere from 50-100 gallons of water per RV, but since they were washed by professionals, the restrictions did not apply. Professor of geology Marlene McCauley said that the washing was unnecessary and only served to make residents upset.

“It is a waste of water even if professionals are washing,” McCauley said. “They’re doing it out in the coliseum parking lot. I don’t think that water is getting recycled.”

More distressing to critics than the RV situation is a loophole that allows residents to use wells to water their lawns, even if their homes are hooked up to city water. McCauley said that since groundwater and surface water are not exclusive sources, this poses a problem since they tend to feed one another. Surface water, like rainfall, usually tends to seep into the soil and feed groundwater sources.

In drought situations, however, the reverse occurs and groundwater draws back to keep the surface from drying up. When city residents pay to have a well dug so they can water their lawns without penalty, groundwater sources could potentially be exhausted twice as fast.

“It would be like if we all stuck straws into a big old vat and we all started sucking off of them,” McCauley said. “Well, the water’s going to lower. That means that water isn’t available for people (who) have to have it, who don’t have city water.”

Despite the rainfall last week, Greensboro’s water levels remain critical. In an effort to conserve water and reduce usage on campus, the facilities and administration have made decisions to reflect the drought conditions.

“We are currently getting ready to install our first ‘dual flush’ handles on campus,” said Jon Varnell, associate vice president of operations and facilities in an e-mail. “We have numerous other low-flow toilets and water faucets all over campus. Most know of the waterless urinals all over.”

On average, the college spends $100 daily on water. Simple tasks, like turning off faucets while brushing teeth, or taking quick showers can help reduce the amount of water the campus uses.

“Athletic fields have been watered very little with the drought,” Varnell said. “We will continue to look at all water-saving opportunities we can find.”