NC Lawmakers to consider bill setting water usage rules

RALEIGH -- North Carolina lawmakers will review new rules on water usage, just a year after the worst drought recorded in state history. Gov. Mike Easley's office and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources have written a bill to set minimum state water conservation requirements during droughts. The News & Observer or Raleigh reported Monday that the bill calls for automatic restrictions when water supplies drop below a certain level. Those restrictions increase as supplies drop. Cities would be able to impose more restrictions, but could not limit the state restrictions. Robin Smith, assistant secretary for environment, says the earlier fairly moderate conversation measures start, the easier it is to deal with drought-related problems. --- Information from: The News & Observer, http://www.newsobserver.com (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) AP-NY-05-19-08 0846EDT