CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities Department officials say there are no immediate plans to ease water restrictions in the county.

While other areas including Belmont, Bessemer City and Greensboro have relaxed their restrictions, CMUD says Charlotte's water supply is different and any decisions must be made as a team with Duke Energy.

Lake levels in the area are improving, but Charlotte is still considered to be in an exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Charlotte remains on Stage III restrictions, which means lawn watering and operating sprinkler systems is prohibited at all times.

Duke Energy's drought management advisory group will meet on Wednesday to discuss what it would take to scale back water restrictions. The meeting is just a discussion, and no action is expected.

WCNC's Melissa Martin spoke with a local landscaper who says he believes residents should be allowed to water their lawns at least once a week. The landscaper says his business is down 40 percent since the water restrictions went into effect. Hear more tonight on WCNC News at 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, the governor wants to attack water woes on the state level.

Gov. Mike Easley unveiled proposals Tuesday that he will ask lawmakers to approve when they reconvene in May. Easley says the current drought has shown that North Carolina has a 19th century water network in the 21st century.

One change would require local water systems to follow minimum water conservation measures in the two most severe levels of drought if they don't set their own restrictions. Another would give the governor authority to force a water system to provide water to another community in an emergency, before a threat to public health surfaces.

But Easley said the key to helping North Carolina withstand the current drought is water conservation by individuals.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.