This week's rains have forestalled water-use restrictions in Durham.

"Miraculously," City Manager Tom Bonfield said today.

More than 2.5 inches of rain fell Monday and Tuesday in the watersheds of Lake Michie and the Little River Reservoir, replenishing the city's water supply from about 70 percent of capacity to about 82 percent, Bonfield said. Seventy-five percent is the point at which Stage One restrictions are supposed to take effect.

At Tuesday night's City Council meeting Bonfield said he did not expect the rain to raise reservoir levels enough to avoid restrictions. But for the time being, he said, "We will not be moving forward with any water restrictions."