Drought Prompts Contractors in North Carolina to Campaign

The Green Industry Council, made up of landscape contractors and those in the nursery business, started to organize a campaign so that some people in Mecklenburg County, N.C., can water outside again.

"The water decisions are made locally," said Louise Hodges, president of the council.

Hodges argued during a meeting Thursday that the “green” industry is the only one left out to dry because of residential water restrictions.

“If you tell a manufacturer that you are able to manufacture all you want but you can’t sell your product, that’s what’s happening to the green industry,” Hodges added.  “We can water the inventory that we have but nobody can buy it because no one can water it once it goes in.”  

A state funded study showed that the green industry accounts for more than $8 billion each year in North Carolina.  It employs about 151,000 people.

“At Garden Grove Nursery we are down by 38 percent (in revenue) and we’ve laid off over half our workforce,” said Don Shew.

Under the Green Industry Council proposal, it would be okay to water as necessary for 30 days.

"Which covers trees, flowers, shrubs, and grass seed,” added Hodges.

The variance would only apply on new professionally done yard work.

"And then after those 30 days, no more than twice a week,” Hodges explained.

The coalition said it’s possible if North Carolina had a water restriction policy like in Georgia.

"I would never ask someone not to have water to drink," said Shew.

Green industry leaders argue that water usage consumption would balance out if municipalities put in place mandatory restrictions on all business industries.