Revised water-conservation standards are now in effect for OWASA customers based on recent actions by the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro and Orange County.

Spray irrigation of non-turf vegetation such as trees, shrubs and gardens is not subject to limits on days of the week, hours and amount of irrigation per week under normal conditions.

Drip irrigation, underground hose emitters, soaker hose, hand watering and other non-spray irrigation are allowed at any time, duration and frequency except in a water-supply emergency.

Spray irrigation of turf (grass) is now permitted in normal water-supply conditions before 10:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. on the designated days: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for odd-numbered addresses and Wednesday, Friday and Sunday for even addresses. The spray-irrigation limit of one inch per week in normal water-supply conditions continues to apply to turf.

There is greater flexibility for irrigation of “public-purpose athletic and recreational fields” and “public-purpose botanical sites” for which OWASA approves a water-conservation plan. Public facilities were previously subject to the same irrigation restrictions as private properties.

Swimming pools can be filled, refilled or topped off at any time except in a water-supply emergency.

OWASA staff developed the proposed changes based on experiences in the 2007-08 drought and comments from customers about the water-use restrictions, which were adopted in 2003.