By admin 
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — Even with a little bit of rain over the last week, Durham’s water supply continues to fall. As of Tuesday, the city is reporting its reservoirs are less than half full.
“That’s dropped a little bit and it will continue to drop until we get some rain,” Durham Water Management Assistant Director for Administration, Communication & Compliance Sydney Miller said.
According to the city, there’s an estimated 86 days before the main supply is exhausted. That’s why residents are under stage 2 water restrictions, eliminating sprinkler use, as well as car washing and power washing.
The Department of Water Management reports a 12 percent drop in demand, but it started issuing violation notices, which could lead to fines.
“Our residents are responding, and we need them to do more,” Miller said. “The bad news is that we have to do something, and the good news is we’re starting to do something.”
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Officials said Durham is currently getting water from Jordan lake with help from the Town of Cary. But the city is working on an $850 million project that would allow them to pump that supply straight to Durham with a new treatment facility.
“If we had that, we would not be in trouble right now,” Miller said. “That sets up our city for the next generation and growth and it also sets up our city for much greater resilience and just being in a better position for a future drought.”
Durham Water Management said project leaders are just now entering design-build contracts, and they expect the Jordan Lake project to be ready in 2031 or 2032.
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