Drought chief: 17 water systems now nearing crisis point
RALEIGH (AP) — The number of North Carolina water systems that are nearing a crisis because of the drought has nearly tripled over the past week.
Woody Yonts, chairman of the Drought Management Advisory Council, tells another state panel that 17 water systems would have water for less than 100 days, under the current conditions. That’s up from six last week.
Raleigh tops the list based on population. Durham, Monroe and Boone also are among the highest.
The designation doesn’t mean all the systems will go dry in a few months. Yonts says it means local governments may have to find alternate sources for their residents.
Gov. Mike Easley have asked residents statewide to cut their water use in half between now and Halloween to see how they can cope with critically low water levels.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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