Well Users Not Bound by Drought Restrictions

Bob Thomas' Wake County home is on well water, but he has self-imposed water restrictions.

"I could [water] but I want to be safe," Thomas said.

Over the last few weeks, Thomas has watched the water in his above-ground pool dry up to a puddle. He said filling the pool is simply a waste of water.

Thomas was among those who listened intensely as Gov. Mike Easley asked everyone Monday to join together to save every drop of  water.

"I need every single community and every single citizen in North Carolina now doing everything they can to save every drop of water they can," Easley said in an address to the annual conference of the North Carolina League of Municipalities. "We have to act now to avoid running out of water."

Thomas said he, too, is worried his water will run out.

"I have to look out for myself," he said.

Jeff Lautier of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said private wells could affect surface water cities and towns use, however, there is no way to enforce water conservation measures on private wells without meters.

"It would be kind of a nightmare to try to enforce some type of temporary rules," Lautier said.

Wells take longer to be affected by the drought, but they can also take longer to recover.