Lack of rainfall in southeastern North Carolina is prompting the utility providing drinking water to about 200,000 customers around Wilmington to impose restrictions on the use of water.The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority said Monday the region faces a moderate drought so it's limiting how and when customers can water lawns and plants. The authority says that so far this year the Wilmington area has received less than two-thirds of the rain it normally sees.
The rules include watering lawns on alternate days during overnight, early morning or evening hours. Permits are needed to water new landscape plants.
The restrictions come at the same time as parts of North Carolina's mountains and foothills are coping with flash flooding after days of heavy rain.