At last check, Falls Lake, which provides water to Raleigh and six other Wake County towns, had enough water to last at least until the middle of June.
RALEIGH -- A community forum Saturday on Raleigh’s dwindling water supply drew dozens of concerned citizens. The meeting raised the question, "Will the water run out?"
Garner resident Lois Borresen was among the concerned citizens.
"I’d like to know what Wake County has in its plans for the future [of water]," she explained. "[Wake County] is growing so fast, and there's not enough water for the people that are here."
At last check, Falls Lake, which provides water to Raleigh and six other Wake County towns, had enough water to last at least until the middle of June.
"We are concerned about the long term. Are we going to have enough water supply for our growing population?" asked Karen Rindge, who helped organize Saturday’s forum.
Rindge is with Wake Up Wake County. The group tries to educate the public about how growth affects infrastructure.
"We're here because we believe it's time to wake up. We really need to be taking action now to plan for the growth in this region," Rindge said.
Local leaders say they are already taking action. For instance, they are looking to tap new sources and use more reclaimed water.
"Not everything we do with water needs to have drinking water quality," explained Tommy Esqueada, who is with Wake County Environmental Services.
Raleigh's toughest-ever water restrictions are now a week old. Stage 2 conservation measures went into effect Feb. 15, but the city is already discussing the possibility of even tighter, Stage 3 restrictions.
That is fine with Borresen. She just wants to hear one thing.
"Some hope for the future," she said.
It is a future that could see the worst drought in North Carolina history persist for some time.