Governor urges conservation to avoid mandatory rules

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Governor Easley says today that North
Carolinians should voluntarily conserve water to avoid mandatory
restrictions in the future.

Easley says he doesn’t want to have to institute mandatory
restrictions, but he says it could come to that.

The federal drought map shows that 86 of the state’s 100
counties are under exceptional or extreme drought – the two worst
categories on a four-point drought scale.

The governor says North Carolina should be able to avoid a
situation of threatened health and safety.

According to a press release from the governor, 62 public water
systems have voluntary water restrictions and 66 have made
mandatory use restrictions.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
restrictions, but he says it could come to that.