North Carolina Issues

Hendersonville City Council Modified Restrictions for Car Washes
At Thursday night's (August 7, 2008) meeting of Hendersonville City Council, local car wash operators protested the city's stage two mandatory water restrictions imposed on all city water customers earlier this week because of the current drought. City council modified it's restrictions on those car washes.

The stage two restrictions had banned all car washing and cashwashes in the city where the water used is not recycled. Some local car washes do not recycle their water, but claim they use less water than many other businesses, so the restrictions were unfair. After hearing the protests, city council agreed to require the car washes only to reduce their water consumption by 20 percent and, for those who had been forced to close under the earlier restrictions, to be allowed to re-open.

Meanwhile, Hendersonville water users entered day four of mandatory restrictions on Friday after receiving only light sprinkles of rain on Thursday and no other decent chance for rain before next Tuesday. When asked about the possibility of stage three water restrictions at some point, if the drought continues, Hendersonville City Manager Bo Ferguson told WHKP News that stage three restrictions are primarily only for "water emergencies" and are unlikely in the current drought. (WHKP Radio 1450 AM, Hendersonville, NC)

Bill Gives State More Powers to React During Drought
A bill signed by Gov. Mike Easley today makes it easier for the state to impose mandatory water-use rules on communities during droughts, the governor's office said. The state says the new rules are needed to give the governor and state the ability to react more quickly when drought conditions worsen. In situations of "extreme" or "exceptional" drought, the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources can require local water systems to tighten water-use rules on residents and businesses. Under the old law, the governor could only declare an emergency if there was an immediate threat to a community's health or safety.

The bill also requires local water systems to have water-conservation strategies in place, including levels of mandatory conservation measures and triggers for moving from one level to the next. The bill also requires that anyone using more than 10,000 gallons of water a day for agricultural purposes to report water usage to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. During times of "extreme" or "exceptional" drought conditions, the DENR may require public water systems to report water usage weekly. Portions of the law go into effect Oct. 1, while other portions go into effect on Dec. 1 and July 1.

On July 31st, the town of North Wilkesboro put mandatory water restrictions in effect for the first time in its 117-year history because of the drought. Washing vehicles is banned except at commercial car washes that recycle water. Watering of yards is limited to every other day according to a resident's address. "We get these afternoon showers and it brings the (river) flow up for a little, but it's just runoff," said town Utilities Director Dale Shumate. "We need some sustained rain ... to get the groundwater built up." The town's 4,200 residents were told about the restrictions through an automated telephone notice system Wednesday evening.

In Forsyth County, the City-County Utilities Division in Forsyth County put voluntary restrictions in place on Tuesday. Water flow in the Yadkin River is approaching low levels not seen since the 2002 drought. The Yadkin River supplies 80 percent of Forsyth County's water. County officials said that the river's flow in July has averaged 553 cubic feet a second — one-third of the normal flow of 1,659 cubic feet a second. Under voluntary restrictions, people are being asked to limit watering of lawns and plants to no more than an hour a day and to avoid watering between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Other recommendations include repairing leaky faucets and toilets and turning off taps when shaving, brushing teeth or washing dishes. Washing machines and dishwashers should be run only with full loads, the utilities division said, and the washing of vehicles should also be limited. (Winston-Salem Journal - Winston-Salem, NC, USA)

Authority to Mandate Water Restrictions Nears Approval
The North Carolina House of Representatives has tentatively approved legislation that gives state officials authority to mandate water restrictions across the state during a drought. The 84 to 27 vote followed an unsuccessful effort to add a requirement for separate water meters for new, in-ground sprinkler systems. The bill gives muscle to state leaders who, during days of extreme drought last year, could do little more than politely ask communities to cut back on their water use. 2008 rainfall has eased the drought, but it lingers statewide. (Apartment Association of North Carolina – Patrick M. Horn)

Autobell Charity Car Wash Program Surpasses $2.5 Million
During 2007, Autobell Car Wash’s Charity Car Wash Program helped raise $550,000 for charities, schools and other non-profits in North and South Carolina and Virginia. The Charlotte-based company’s program began in 1998 and has raised over $2.5 million to date.

Through the program, Autobell provides non-profit groups with full-service car wash certificates at a wholesale price; the fundraisers in turn sell the certificates at normal retail price. Non-profits are also able to return any unsold certificates to Autobell for a refund. The certificates are custom-printed with the organization’s name and are honored at any Autobell location.

“This program continues to be a stalwart of both our charitable involvement and our environmental focus, particularly now that water conservation is more critical than ever,” stated Autobell president & CEO Chuck Howard. “We’re able to provide non-profits with a popular and effective alternative to polluting and water-wasting parking lot car wash fundraisers.

“It also allows non-profits to encourage their supporters to do the right thing regarding the environment and water usage,” Howard elaborated, “because when certificate holders redeem their car washes at Autobell, we’re using treated and recycled water to help them maintain their auto investment.”

Non-profits interested in Autobell’s Charity Car Wash Program should contact Judith Pittelko at 704-527-0274 or 1-800-582-8096 or visit www.autobell.com to learn more.