The county, along with most of the state, has been easing back into drought conditions, but the recent rain should be more than enough to fill the Tar River Reservoir. Nash County purchases water from the city for use in the Central Nash Water and Sewer District.

According to Wayne Hollowell, director of water resources for the City of Rocky Mount, water in the Tar River flowing eastward toward the reservoir is moving at more than 495 cubic feet per second.

The water was flowing at only 20 cubic feet per second before the storms.

He said city officials were beginning to worry about lack of significant rainfall and the decreasing water level at the reservoir.

An unusual early heat wave in June, with temperatures of 100 degrees or higher, caused increased evaporation in the reservoir, adding to rainfall shortages.

Rocky Mount has extra water quarries in the area and Hollowell said the city is making sure the pumps at those quarries work in case drought conditions get worse so the city can move extra water to the reservoir.

Last summer, the reservoir came dangerously close to being dry.

Rocky Mount City Manager Steve Raper said that, for now, the city will remain under voluntary water restrictions. Since the county purchases water from the city that means Nash County is also under voluntary restrictions.