You aren’t alone!

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities is hard at work this afternoon repairing a water line issue along Esherwood Lane in Providence Arbours.  Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities is estimating that water service should return back to normal in 2-4 hours.

Click here to learn more:  http://cmudata.com/newsstories.cfm.

Effective immediately (and through midnight of November 30, 2008), outdoor watering is allowed 2 days per week as follows:

Customers with odd-numbered addresses:  may water on Tuesdays & Saturdays.

Customers with even-numbered addresses:  may water on Thursdays & Sundays.

For more information, click here:  http://www.charmeck.org/NR/rdonlyres/ed65uyogas2wsca5gx2oo6racyfb3wuko7uzspk3srqpzmiw2tb2feq2cugidllphao6sjnpvafz64inzkbz5lnia5f/092408restrictionsamendWEB.pdf

Call CharMeck 311 should you still be having problems with water at your home.

A refresher on 311…

311 provides customer service functions for City and County agencies including  Animal Control, Code Enforcement, Storm Water Services, Transportation, Utilities, Solid Waste Services, CMPD’s Crime Reporting Unit, along with Mecklenburg County Tax, and Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Departments.

Did you know that 311 now offers an online request service?

In addition to calling 311, you can now submit an online request form to have your sidewalk repaired, garbage can replaced, etc.  Learn more at http://servicerequest.charmeck.org/Emweb/mnt/Request04Entry01Contact.asp?sk=PwrwoifGmJittBf.

Water outage in south Charlotte

Between 500 and 800 residents in south Charlotte were without water for about 16 hours Friday as utility workers struggled to repair a leaky service line.

 The problem line was located in the 4700 block of McKee Road, just off Providence Road. Workers first responded to the problem Thursday night and determined the leak needed immediate attention. 

Workers expected to have the line back up and running Friday morning, but as of 5 p.m. only part of the affected area was back in service. 

“It has been a complicated repair,” said Vic Simpson, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities spokesman. “It usually takes a few hours, but this one was deeper than they expected.” 

Service lines typically run from water mains to a few homes. Fixing one, however, often requires shutting off the water main. 

Simpson said fixing the unusually large service line – about 4 inches in diameter — also required some parts and equipment that workers did not expect. He said workers had difficulty fully shutting off water so they could excavate the pipe safely. Simpson also said they had to bring in a larger pump to get the water out of the hole.

Officials now expect the line to be back up by 8 p.m. The utility department made half-gallon jugs of water available for residents at its work site. Later in the day, some workers went door-to-door with water jugs.

“We know it has been a long night for folks,” Simpson said. 

Simpson said utility workers would be going around the clock until the repairs are done. 

All utilities customers south of I-85 can return to one weekend day of outdoor water use effective Saturday, 6/28.

Water conservation efforts and restrictions remain necessary as the Charlotte area struggles with the continuing Stage 3 drought. 

Needing a refresher on what’s allowed?

*   Hand-held use of a watering container or hose (with spray nozzle attached) to water trees, shrubs or plant beds is allowed on any day in all parts of our service area.  *   Use of drip irrigation or soaker hoses to water trees, shrubs or plant beds is permitted on any day in any part of our service system. *   Pressure washing a deck or outside of a house is allowed on any day across the service area. *   Commercial uses of water, except those restricted above, are still allowed. That would include commercial pressure washers, watering nurseries, commercial car washes, street washers, water use for a construction site, etc.

For more information, visit http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/utilities/home.htm?header=www%2ecmutilities%2ecom.

These same restrictions are already in place during weekdays for all Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities customers.

The restrictions are in place “until further notice” as repair work continues on the 54-inch water main along Providence Road at Briar Creek.  It is possible that the main may be returned to service by early next week.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities will provide updates to local news media and will also post updates on its home page at http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/utilities/home.htm?header=www%2ecmutilities%2ecom.