Durham, NC - Less than 80 days.

That is how long Durham's water supply will last without rain, if consumers don't cut back on water usage, according to city officials.

"The calculations are based on the worst case scenario -- if we don't get any rain and if the rate of water usage doesn't drop some more," said James Lim, conservation coordinator the City of Durham's Department of Water Management. "We don't want residents to be alarmed, but we want them to be aware. It is vital that everyone conserves water whenever and wherever possible."

Because of the continuing drought, Duke's administrators are urging students, faculty and staff to make a conscientious effort to conserve water on campus.

Fliers with water conservation tips are being developed for distribution on campus. In addition, those tips have been emailed to students. In addition, an ad with water saving advice is running Tuesday in The Chronicle.

"We're doing everything we can to spread the message to students," said Eddie Hull, dean of Residence Life and executive director of Housing Services. "In the residence halls, we've also been using flow-restrictor shower heads and sink faucets, and adjusting toilets to have a smaller tank capacity."

In mid-September, the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared 96 counties in North Carolina as disaster areas due to the drought. There's no sign of relief in the forecast, according to a map issued Sept. 20 by the North Carolina Drought Advisory Council. Climatologists predict a dry fall, which could worsen drought conditions.

Durham's water usage has dropped 15 percent since Mandatory Stage III water conservation requirements went into effect on Sept. 21. The city's goal is to reduce water use by 30 percent.

"People are pitching in to help, but we're only half way there," Lim said. "That's why we appreciate the ongoing efforts that are being made by many residents, businesses and places like Duke."

John Noonan, associate vice president for Duke's Facilities Management Department, said Duke is constantly exploring innovative methods to boost sustainability, such as installing drought-tolerant landscaping and designing new buildings to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) guidelines.

"Even before the city issued the mandatory restrictions Duke had already begun making changes to reduce the amount of water consumed and we are continuing to look at all areas on campus to find additional ways to conserve water," Noonan said. "Duke is determined to stay ahead of the game on this."

Water conservation efforts at Duke are already resulting in substantial savings. For example, Duke's water discharge from outdoor irrigation systems has dropped about 40 percent by reducing the frequency and duration of watering flower beds and other landscape on Duke's 1,395 acres.

"We usually use 539,000 gallons per day to irrigate, but through our conservation efforts we intend to save 215,752 gallons per day," said Joe Jackson, assistant director of grounds and sanitation in FMD.

Duke cut its overall water consumption by nearly 10 percent this summer. From June 1 through Sept. 7, Duke University and Health System used 18 million gallons less than during the same period last year, according to meter readings. This summer's water usage was nearly 178 million gallons -- down from nearly 196 million gallons last summer.

Durham's water supply comes from Lake Michie and Little River Reservoir, which are both at about 60 percent capacity. Even without rain, city officials say, faucets in Durham won't run dry because the city has emergency measures in place, such as drawing water from shallow areas. If water levels drop to critical, the city has a contingency plan with the town of Cary that would allow Durham to draw 10 million gallons a day from Cary's water treatment plant at Jordan Lake.

Durham launched a website with water conservation tips and several new programs to bolster environmental efforts, such as the Water: Use it Wisely educational campaign and EnviroStars, which recognizes businesses. Residents can purchase water-efficient showerheads for $3 each at Durham City Hall.

The Durham Soil and Water Conservation District and N.C. Extension Office offer advice, such as tips drought-tolerant landscaping.