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Mebane utilities director: lake about 47 inches low, roughly 270 days of water available; no restrictions now
Summary
Kyle Smith, Mebane’s Public Utilities Director, said on July 14 that Grand Mebane Lake stood about 47 inches below full pool and the system had an estimated 270 days of supply. The city is not under water-use restrictions but urged voluntary conservation as demand rises.
Kyle Smith, Public Utilities Director for the City of Mebane, said in a recorded update at Grand Mebane Lake on July 14 that the lake level was about 47 inches below full pool and the system currently holds an estimated 270 days of available supply. "As of July 14, the lake level was approximately 47 inches below full pool," Smith said.
Smith said the city is not implementing its water-shortage response plan and is "not presently under any type of water restrictions." He described the plan's stage 1 voluntary conservation trigger as occurring "when [water supply] reaches approximately 150," and said that threshold corresponds to the lake being roughly 8.4 feet (about 101 inches) below full pool.
The city jointly owns Grand Mebane Lake and the water-treatment plant with the City of Graham; Smith said Graham oversees plant operations under a contractual agreement between the two municipalities. "This lake serves as a reservoir providing drinking water for both of our communities," he said.
Smith cautioned that drought conditions can change quickly and said recent monitoring shows a rapid increase in demand. "Recent monitoring of our water usage does show a rapid increase in demand, which if continued at this pace, can deplete our water supply quicker," he said, urging residents to conserve so the community can avoid future restrictions.
He offered specific conservation steps for residents: repair leaks, water landscapes only when necessary, run full loads of laundry and dishes, and turn off the faucet when brushing teeth. "Simple actions ... can make a meaningful difference in conservation of our water supply and potentially delaying the need for future water restrictions," Smith said.
Smith said the city will continue to monitor lake levels, weather conditions and demand, and will notify the community through social media, the city's website and press releases if conditions change. He closed by thanking viewers and urging residents to use water wisely.
The update was a recorded public-information message rather than a formal meeting; no motion or vote was taken.
