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Gov. Mike Easley on Monday called on the cities hardest hit by the drought gripping the state to take immediate steps to shore up their water systems.

Should water rates be raised to help people conserve? Join the discussion at the Debatables blog.

Easley urged representatives from more than two dozen water systems to take several measures, including connecting to nearby water systems, hunting down leaks and charging rates that increase with water use.

Residents might not be crazy about higher rates, he said, but it's a key way to stem consumption.

"They're going to really be upset if they run out of water," Easley told officials gathered at the Pinecroft Sedgefield Fire Department just outside Greensboro.

The state also plans to send in its own water experts to aud­it vulnerable cities to make sure excessive water isn't being lost through leaks.

Easley, who has boasted recently of his ability to take 26-second showers, said individual decisions to conserve are also important.

"It's not that hard to do a little bit more if you just think about it and you're mindful of it," he said.

Although encouragement is helpful, money can be persuasive, Easley and others said.

In Raleigh, the mayor recently proposed raising water rates by 50 percent, said Dale Crisp , the city's public utilities director.

In Orange County, water use went down when Orange Water and Sewer Authority increased rates earlier in the decade, said Ed Kerwin , the agency's executive director.

"Price is a very powerful conservation tool," he said.

The authority also restricted water use, allowing sprinklers only three days a week and then only at night.

That saves water while not hurting lawns, Kerwin said.

"People found out you don't have to water your lawn every day to keep it green," he said.

Greensboro already follows Easley's advice. The system is connected to neighboring systems including Burlington, Reidsville and Winston-Salem, and the city's rates increase with use.

Other suggestions included engaging the landscaping industry to encourage the use of water-sipping plants and the use of equipment such as rain barrels.

Though discussion of prevention strategies was specific, state officials were vague about what might happen if a major system ran out of water.

Robin Smith , assistant secretary for the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said enough water for a city of 300,000 can't be trucked in.

Water supplies can dry up fast, some said.

Joe Hudson, Statesville's water resources director, recalled being able to straddle the South Yadkin River during 2002's drought.

"I took some more Zantac, and we called our staff together," Hudson said.

The situation grew severe enough that the city had to restrict water to industry to make supplies last. The decline happened quickly, he said.

"All at once, the bottom fell out," Hudson said. "It changes fast. It's unreal how it will change."

Ultimately, the water crunch isn't just about dry weather. The numbers just don't add up. The amount of water isn't growing, but the state's population is.

Easley said that taking the right steps now could make it possible to reduce the state's vulnerability to future droughts.

"This is a unique type of dis­aster," he said.

"If we solve this problem ... we can solve this problem forever."

Contact Jason Hardin at 373-7021 or at jason.hardin@news-record.com