"Unprecedented" Water Usage Causes Advisory

Johnston County Public Utilities, the town's water supplier, has issued a "Water Shortage Advisory" asking customers, including Clayton residents, to stop all unnecessary uses of water until the current "unprecedented" demand eases.

Although residents are being asked to voluntarily conserve, the town has not experienced any water quality problems. Clayton's water supply is being regularly tested and monitored to make sure its quality is maintained.

Officials said water usage has been at an all-time high, complicated by system limitations in some areas that probably won't be corrected until later in the year.

Customers are being asked to put off watering of lawns, washing of vehicles and other "non-essential" uses of water.

For more information, please contact Johnston County Public Utilities at 989-5075.

As dry conditions continue, the usual water conservation rules will still be in force for Clayton residents once the emergency situation ends.

Irrigation is NOT allowed on Mondays. Residents with odd number addresses may irrigate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Those with even number addresses may irrigate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. That schedule applies for personal car washing, too, and other, non-essential uses of water.

The use of in-ground irrigation systems is allowed but only on the proper days.

The drought that took some areas across the South to the brink of disaster in recent years has not yet been declared over.