The days of hand-washing the car while the kids run through the sprinkler and the dishwasher is running are gone. At least for now.
Though Raleigh and its water customers in neighboring municipalities have less than 110 days of water left, the Raleigh City Council took anticipatory measures to protect the water supply, following the urgings of county mayors.
Some officials, like Rolesville Town Manager Matt Livingston, point out water restrictions are the norm for the West Coast. “Go out West and they live like this all the time. We’re not used to doing it; that’s part of our area’s problem.”
With Stage 2 restrictions set to begin Feb. 15, everyone is re-examining their daily water consumption. But the impact doesn’t just affect how long we can stay in the shower in the morning. It has many business owners thinking of creative ways to stay afloat.
Joe Kosek, owner of Equinox Landscaping in Wake Forest, plays the waiting game. “Hopefully the restrictions will be lifted by summertime. I’m not too worried now, but if this goes into summer, it’s going to hurt.”
Kosek’s business has three full-time employees. Competition has become secondary for him. Kosek says he’s thinking about the bigger businesses out there. “I worry about the other guys in the industry. They’ve got a lot of employees and a lot to lose.
“(Raleigh Mayor Charles) Meeker needs to think about this because it’s gonna hurt and maybe close down a lot of businesses.”
Other business owners, like Pat Brothers of Post Nursery in Rolesville, see this as a wake-up call. “Maybe we all need to be more political. This is critical stuff that town and county leaders are doing.”
Brothers said business is hurting, but vegetation will survive. “We have a really good well and pond for irrigation. Looking after the plants isn’t a huge concern. Our customers are the ones in a pickle. It’s had a chilling effect and it has slowed down business.”
Brothers said she’s hopeful the drought will go away, “I’m not so sure the restrictions will go away, though.
“People can take things into their own hands, get information on ponds and wells for personal use,” said Brothers.
Other green businesses are closing greenhouse doors. Larry and Nancy Thompson, owners of All Year Nursery in Louisburg, are among them.
“This was our worst year due to the drought. We sold a lot of products to landscapers as well and that died down this summer,” said Larry Thompson.
All Year Nursery will close March 1.
The Thompsons still worry about others in the industry. “Restrictions aren’t a big problem now, but this spring it will be. The (State) Farmer’s Market is restricting watering this year and that’s questionable for nurseries to be able to sell there. I’m not sure what they’ll do.”
Green thumbs, like Sue Casio of the Wake Forest Garden Club, are getting creative. “It will affect every citizen because we have to come up with innovative ways to keep plants alive.”
Casio suggests filling up buckets while shower water runs. She has also had success with homemade rain barrels. “We use 55-gallon pickle jars. During the last rain it took less than five minutes to fill them up.”
Brothers said she hopes community leaders look at the long term. “North Carolina’s complicated. We were in a drought last summer; we may not be this summer. I see no reason to lay down and die.”