PWNC to Meet in Raleigh NC

[PWNC]

The PWNC is making plans for another meeting, this time in Raleigh, NC, to present the program as well as take suggestions. The date is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, March 1. For more information, please visit PWNC and sign up for our newsletter. Next issue will go out 2/10/2008.

Another topic outside of the introduction that will surely be discussed is the widespread water restrictions that are affecting the NC companies and ways to insure that your company can continue washing during this time. Please bring any contact information that you may have for officials in your area.

Bring business cards and ideas - we look forward to seeing you there!

[newlook]

Any water restriction is of a concern and N.C. and S.C. are no different. It would appear that you folks down there are looking a little bit better vs. other states in the region.

Tougher water restrictions delayed 7:11 AM | Local News | News for Charlotte, North Carolina | WCNC.com | Local News

I don't think anyone is out of the woods and let's hope you all receive some much needed rain.

[CarolinaProWash]

Thank you for pointing out the article Carlos. It reinforces the fact that the press is only printing what makes people feel better. If you refer to the link to the drought monitoring maps, you will see that the 2 inches of rain that the state received last week has not changed the overall fact that our situation in the Carolinas is not improving.

The water restrictions that are already in place have taken their toll on pressure washing companies simply by not specifying in their proclamations of "no power washing" that it is okay to hire a professional legitimate companies. The damage is done, homeowners were misinformed so tougher restrictions really won't affect many more companies than they already have.

It's going to take 3 tropical storms back to back to get us out of trouble. Got to go change users again.

Celeste

[PWNC]

The PWNC is contacting writers from all over the state and making our presence known. I have already received positive responses from several press agencies. Further reason that it is very important that anyone participating with the PWNC share the contact information for their area officials - we can get loud as a group.

[newlook]

You are absoultely correct Celeste in regards to the publics perception ~ the damage is done. Even if all restrictions were lifted I would think that people will still be "nervous" about hiring a washer.

[PWNC]

While Charlotte may possibly be looking a bit better, Raleigh isn't.

Raleigh Leaders Plan to Tighten Water Restrictions
Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker

Posted: Feb. 1, 2008
Updated: Feb. 1 7:44 p.m.

Raleigh — Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker announced Friday that he will ask the City Council to vote next Tuesday to implement tougher water-use restrictions affecting residents, businesses and builders from Feb. 15.

Mayors from six towns that purchase water from Raleigh's system indicated at a meeting late Friday afternoon that they supported Meeker's plans.

"I think it's time we get very serious about this problem," Wendell Mayor Howard Broadwell said. "And if anything, I sometimes worry that maybe we've waited a little late to start from Stage 2."

Stage 2 restrictions would automatically come into effect if Raleigh's water supply dipped to 90 days, but with the supply in Falls Lake predicted to last until mid May, Meeker said he decided to push for tighter restrictions sooner.

“The bottom line: We are going to have to look at water differently,” Meeker said. "One can certainly look back and say we should have done this a month, or two or three or four ago, and you may be right; you may not be. But I think it's time to do it now regardless."

Stage 2 restrictions would ban all pressure-washing and outdoor watering by hand or irrigation systems. Raleigh water customers in Garner, Wake Forest, Rolesville, Knightdale, Wendell and Zebulon would have to comply along with city residents and businesses.

The restrictions would impact businesses from landscapers to swimming pool operators. Car washes would be closed if they could not meet city standards for recycling water.

Home building, however, might be the industry most affected, as tightened water restrictions would prevent developers from flushing new water lines to test them. An advisory committee recommended making an exception for builders that capture the water and put it back into use.

Broadwell said he supported the restrictions on builders, although his town in eastern Wake County is growing fast.

"Obviously, it's going to slow down some of the construction ... but it's a necessary evil," Broadwell said.

Meeker pushed for the changes, even while acknowledging the economic cost might prove to be unpopular.

"This is not only going to inconvenience some people; it's going to affect them economically," Meeker said, and then warned the other mayors, "And I think we have to be aware of that, and you're going to get some push-back."

Meeker said he would like Raleigh to order all builders of new homes to phase out the use of drinking water for irrigation.

“I think we need to do it, not just in Raleigh but in all the municipalities who are on Raleigh’s system,” he said.

Such a measure, though, could lead to more inefficient use of water, argued Tim Minton, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County.

“The problem is going to be, is basically, you’re going to have homeowners going out and watering their grass with hoses, which is not an efficient use of the water system,” Minton said.

Stage 2 restrictions would also:

* require that leaks be repaired within 24 hours of notice from the city
* ban use of water-cooled air conditioners that do not recycle water
* order businesses to review their water usage and implement conservation plans appropriate for their industry
* require that innkeepers ask guests to use their towels and linens more than once before laundering
* prohibit restaurants from serving water, except by request
* ban all non-essential use of water for commercial or public use

The seven mayors discussed formulating Stage 3 restrictions to be implemented if the drought conditions do not improve.

January 2008 got only 25 percent of normal rainfall for the month, making it the fourth-driest January on record at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, WRAL meteorologists said.