Easley urges cut in water use.

Byline: Jim Sparks

Aug. 24--Federal drought maps released yesterday show that drought conditions have spread to all of North Carolina's 100 counties.

The new maps from the U. S. Drought Monitoring Council led Gov. Mike Easley to ask state residents to reduce their water use by 20 percent.

"Stream flows and groundwater levels are approaching their lowest levels in recorded history, and many of our reservoirs are declining by one foot every 10 days," said Easley, who ordered state agencies to cut all nonessential water use.

"Statewide, 59 of North Carolina's 597 public water systems were calling for voluntary water restrictions, and 21 have …