Durham has just 59 days left in its water supply. The city may soon have to go to Series VI restrictions, an unprecedented level of rationing:
Stage VI water restrictions lie down the road if things get desperate. The few specifics in the ordinance include using untreated water to put out fires when possible and banning any industrial water uses. All residents will be told to use disposable plates and utensils. Duke University, Durham County's largest water user, already has taken this step in its dining halls, trading china for throwaway plates.
The Stage VI ordinance ends on a vague note. "All other uses of water will be limited to those necessary to meet minimum health and safety needs of the customers as determined by the city manager," it says.
Stage VI could mean the water gets turned on only three hours a day, as happened last month in the parched town of Orme, Tenn. Or water pressure could drop to a relative trickle.
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