The drought is over, and that means the big waterfall in front of Dorton Arena is back.
The cooling mist and thundering sound of the waterfall has been missing for more than a year, as the N.C. State Fairgrounds turned it off to conserve water during the drought that began last summer.
The fairgrounds staff says the waterfall does recycle the estimated 60,000 gallons it pumps over the wall at 18,000 gallons a minute, but the fine mist it puts off evaporates 2,000 to 3,000 gallons a day. When the water level in the pool below dips to about 16 inches, a valve opens and pumps in more water.
