Polk County has not seen the current, lower level of drought since April of 2008. Tryon water plant supervisor Betty Jones said the town determined that conditions no longer warrant Stage II restrictions.

The town is now at Stage I mandatory restrictions, which allow more water uses.

Jones said the town appreciates the cooperation of Tryon water customers to conserve during the drought. Although the town&squo;s Stage I mandatory restrictions are more lenient, they still require customers to limit water use.

Jones says the town will consider returning to Stage II restrictions if conditions deteriorate again. Below are restrictions for both Stage II and Stage I.

Stage II mandatory water use restrictions

1. To water lawns, grass, shrubbery, trees, flowers and vegetable gardens except by hand-held hose or container or drip irrigation system.

2. To fill newly constructed swimming and/or wading pools or refill swimming and/or wading pools which have been drained.

3. To wash automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats, airplanes or any other type of mobile equipment, with the exception of commercial car washes. Commercial car washes shall adhere to restrictions set by the Town Manager.

4. To wash outside areas such as streets, driveways, service station aprons, parking lots, office buildings, exteriors of existing or newly constructed homes or apartments, sidewalks or patios, or to use water for other similar purposes.

5. To use water from public or private fire hydrants for any purpose other than fire suppression or other public emergency.

6. To operate or induce water into any ornamental fountain, pool or pond or other structure making similar use of water.

7. To serve drinking water in restaurants, cafeterias or other food establishments, except upon request.

8. To operate water-cooled air conditioners or other equipment that does not recycle cooling water, except when health and safety are adversely affected.

9. To use water for any unnecessary purpose or to intentionally waste water.

10. To use water for commercial/industrial purposes in an amount in excess of that amount set by the Town Manager. Usage amount shall be set based on availability of source water.

Stage I mandatory water use restrictions

1. Limit car washing to the minimum.

2. Limit lawn and garden watering to that which is necessary for plants to survive.

3. Do not wash outside areas such as sidewalks, patios, parking lots, service bays or aprons, or the like.

4. Do not leave faucets running while shaving or rinsing dishes.

5. Water shrubbery to the minimum required, reusing household water when possible.

6. Limit use of clothes washers and dish washers and when used, operate fully loaded.

7. Use showers, rather than bathtub, for bathing and limit showers to no more than four minutes.

8. Limit flushing of toilets by multiple usages.

9. Use disposable and biodegradable dishes when possible.

10. Use flow-restrictive and water-saving devices.

11. Limit hours of operation of water-cooled air conditioners.

12. All residents, businesses and institutions shall delay temporarily new landscape work until the water shortage has ended.

13. Limit use for industrial purposes.