Tuesday
afternoon the Wake Forest Town Board
went through the list of possible water
conservation measures for the third time
and finally appeared to agree that the
town should focus on five measures:
-
New flappers for old toilets. They
could be given to residents in older
neighborhoods which are likely to
have older toilets.
-
Free drought-resistant grass seed
for homeowners who want to reseed
their lawns.
-
Xeriscape: the use of native and
drought-resistant plantings for
homes and businesses.
-
Bioretention ponds where water from
storm drains is diverted into
parking lot islands to water plants
and trees. They are being installed
at the Boyd Nissan dealership under
construction between South Main
Street and Capital Boulevard.
-
A free water audit of homes similar
to the town’s energy audit program.
Commissioner Margaret
Stinnett wanted to have the town require
residential developers use some other
source for lawn irrigation than the town
water.
An alternate water source
for irrigation has been a bargaining
chip most developers lately have been
willing to spend to get a larger water
allocation.
Mayor Vivian Jones said
developers “should be encouraged whether
they want the extra allocation or not.”
But, she said to Stinnett, “If you want
to put an irrigation system in your
yard, I don’t want you to have to dig a
well. I don’t think that’s necessary. I
think it’s going to do as much harm to
the environment.”
Any existing home in Wake
Forest can get a permit from the City of
Raleigh for an irrigation system by
paying fees, Town Manager Mark Williams
said. “What you’re looking at is what
you can do for the future.”
It also has to be something
that can be handled through the town’s
zoning and planning regulations, Deputy
Town Manager Roe O’Donnell said.
The town can also require
deed restrictions for the homes in a
subdivision where the developer has
pledged not to install irrigation
systems, Planning Director Chip Russell
said.
The City of Raleigh owns the
town’s water and sewer systems. |
