With severe drought conditions in the area, the Raleigh City Council voted unanimously on Aug. 7 to give City Manager J. Russell Allen the power to employ stage-one water restrictions within the city.

As a part of the Raleigh community, N.C. State must do its part in preserving water. As a significant portion of Raleigh, it’s imperative that we follow the guidance and direction of the city manager and city council. NCSU can set an example for the city’s community when it comes to these water restrictions.

By following a few small suggestions students, faculty, staff and administrators can go a long way to save water. If everyone pitches in and does a little to aid in the effort, then the results will be noticeable.

Here are some suggestions for saving water: avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily; make sure that you don’t leave the water running when you are brushing your teeth or shaving; keep shower lengths to a minimum; and wash only full loads of laundry.

We realize that some of these tips may sound small and miniscule. However trivial you think these suggestions are, if everyone pitches in and does a few of these, we can have a positive impact on the water situation.

As the weather is fairly unpredictable, the length of the drought is unknown. By taking steps now to reduce the stress on our water system, we can go a long way to fight off potential stage-two water restrictions.

This is a perfect time for the campus community to be an example for the rest of Raleigh. We shouldn’t sit on the sidelines while the rest of the community is doing their best to conserve water. So, keep the drought in the back of your mind when you decide to take that long shower, wash a half load of laundry or leave the faucet on when you’re not using it.