May 20, 2008

Charlotte, NC -- The Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group (DMAG) meet on Monday, May 20 and has recommended no change to the current water user restrictions.

The Group noted that drought conditions have not improved substantially over the last 30 days, and the Catawba-Wateree Basin remains in a Stage 3 drought. According to Ed Bruce, DMAG coordinator, "So far this year rainfall has been about five inches below normal, and we're just getting to hot weather when the demand for water is the highest. Until all the indicators show big improvements, we need to be cautious about our water use. We hope we won't need to go back to more severe restrictions."

While the area has received some rainfall this spring and lake level as up, the area remains in a drought. Stream flows and groundwater recovery are still lagging and the return of warmer temperatures prompted the committee to continue the current Stage 3 restrictions.

Charlotte Mecklenburg water restricts, which limit outdoor water use to one day per week, are detailed on the utility website at www.cmutilities.com.

The DMAG will review the current drought indicators and reconsider conditions again at the end of June.

 The Catawba Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group was formed to regularly review the drought status and to recommend and coordinate needed action for the Groups' members. Normally scheduled to meet once a year, the DMAG since late summer 2007, has received weekly drought status reports and has met as a group at least monthly. Members include the area's public water suppliers and several large industrial users that withdraw water from the Basin, North and South Carolina agencies, the US Geological Survey, and Duke Energy.