Leesa in Ann Arbor they sold rain barrels and yes I bought one but haven't installed it as yet.  You use the rain water to water your plants.  I agree with you.

Is there a ban on using the existing in ground sprinklers too?  Or is it just for new installs?

Karen - Rain barrels became hugely popular here with the horrible drought.  I have one as well!  Great for capturing the rainwater and watering the garden.

Don - It would appear that the ban only pertains to NEW systems.  I think that is why I lean more toward stricter rules across the board. 

The ban does not have as much to do with conservation as it does the costs to the Town of Wake Forest if they exceed their water allocation agreement amount. The water is here for irrigation so keep it on 2 days a week. Someone should expose the actual costs if the Town exceeds the agreed amount. This will show you it's more a question of money than conservation.  

Dominic - Thanks for stopping by and providing your thoughts!  The water is here for irrigation so keep it on 2 days a week. That comment confused me slightly....are you also in favor of tighter restrictions and forgetting the ban?

My "daddy" introduced me to the idea of a rain barrel years ago; and we used it for watering my plants (and I have a GREAT DEAL of them) thank goodness we have no issues here.  I was also wondering if the ban included in ground sprinklers?

Patti - If by the sprinklers that you attach to the end of a hose is what you mean then - no, they are not banned.  However, if it is the underground sprinklers then yes.

There's nothing I love more than a beautiful green lawn... unless of course it's a tall cool drink of water on a hot day. :)  haha  We can engineer heartier grass... it's hard to de-engineer thirst.