Southern Pines Town Manager Reagan Parsons has ordered Stage 3 mandatory water conservation measures due to the low flow of water in the town’s raw water source.

According to the adopted policy, the mandatory conservation measures will stay in effect for 30 days or until the water source’s daily discharge maximum measurement is greater than 15 cubic feet per second for five consecutive days.

Stage 3 restrictions are as follows:

 To water or sprinkle any lawn, grass, shrubbery, trees, or flowers except from a watering can or other container. The watering can or container may not exceed three (3) gallons in capacity and must contain used water from inside a structure.

 Exception - newly planted shrubbery, trees or flowers may be watered by hand-held hose.

 Public and private customers owning golf courses, and institutional customers owning athletic and playing fields, which are separately metered, may water the courses and fields by any method pursuant to the same terms and conditions set forth in Stage 2 Warning except the mandatory water use reduction shall be 60 percent of their average usage during the most recent 12-month period in which no water shortage was in effect.

 To water any vegetable garden except by hand-held hose, container, or drip irrigation.  To fill or refill any single-family swimming or wading pool or water any tennis court, if a residential customer.

 To use water for any other purpose, whether commercial, public, or otherwise, that is not necessary for health or safety. Persons regularly engaged in the sale of plants shall be permitted to use water for irrigation of their commercial stock in trade.

 State, county, and city licensed landscape contractors may continue to water plantings that are under written warranty by hand-held hose, container or drip irrigation.

 Water service connections to the town’s water system may not be authorized except , if all other requirements of law pertaining to such connections have been met and a valid building permit is in effect.

 Additionally, the restrictions require that commercial and multi-family swimming pool customers shall reduce water usage by 25 percent and;

That all industrial, manufacturing and commercial enterprises, shall reduce consumption to any degree feasible with a reduction goal of at least 30 percent of their usual usage during the most recent 12 month period in which no water storage was in effect; Provided that this goal shall not apply to those customers who wash parts of vehicles where such washing is required by federal, state, or local laws, or for health or safety reasons.

Stage 2 measures are still imposed which include but are not limited to:

 To wash automobiles, truck, trailers, boats, airplanes, or any other type of mobile equipment; except parts of vehicles may be washed where required by federal, state, or local laws or for safety reasons; Provided that any commercial or business operated car wash facility shall be permitted to use water for such purposes.

To wash down outside areas such as streets, driveways, service station aprons, parking lots, office buildings exteriors of existing or newly constructed homes or apartments, sidewalks, or patios or to use water for similar purposes; Provided that hand washing of exterior surfaces of a building for preparing them for painting shall be permitted; Provided further that licensed commercial pressure washers shall be permitted to operate.

 To introduce water into any ornamental fountain or pool not containing plants or fish.

 To use water from any public or private fire hydrant for any purpose other than by the Fire Department for fire suppression, testing and drills, Public Works Department need or other public emergencies.

 To use water for dust control or compaction.

 To use water for any unnecessary purpose or intentionally waste water.

 To serve drinking water in restaurants, cafeterias, or other food establishments, except as requested.

For more information or questions, call 692-7021 or 692-2463.