Durham Faces Severe Drought with 81 Days of Water Supply Remaining
Durham, North Carolina, is grappling with severe drought conditions, leaving the city with an estimated 81 days of water supply. The city's two primary reservoirs, Lake Michie and Little River Reservoir, are at just 31% of their combined storage capacity. Lake Michie is 12.71 feet below its full level, while Little River Reservoir is 19.08 feet below its full level. To address the crisis, Durham is supplementing its water supply through additional sources, including Teer Quarry, Jordan Lake, and water purchased from the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA). The city is also under Stage 2 water restrictions, which limit water usage for irrigation, vehicle washing, and other non-essential activities. Officials are closely monitoring conditions that could trigger Stage 3 restrictions if reservoir levels drop further.
