CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Mecklenburg County Government turned the tap off this week on several public fountains as the county's utility department enacted tougher rules for outdoor watering.

However, some public fountains were still operating Thursday, prompting some county administrators to review policies on their use.

Greg Jackson, operations director for Mecklenburg County Parks, said the department was examining five “spraygrounds,” where nozzles spray water into recreation areas on hot summer days. A decision could be made next week.

“The department is looking at it from a conservation and environmental protective, is it something we want to continue to do,” Jackson said, adding staff would also take a closer look at a fountain at Fourth Ward Park, which was also still operating Thursday morning.

Jackson said the fountains recycle water through a filtration system.

Catawba Riverkeeper Donna Lisenby, an outspoken advocate on conservation, said fountains can lose about 40 percent of their water to evaporation on a summer day.

Most fountains have automatic refill valves that replace water lost from evaporation, Lisenby said.

“(Fountains are) a very expensive use of water when we’re in drought conditions,” said Lisenby.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities Department has sent a letter to government officials asking for extra vigilance in water conservation, according to CMUD spokesman Vic Simpson.

Simpson said the "topping off" of fountains is permitted under the mandatory restrictions that went into effect Tuesday.

Fountains that are completely dry cannot be refilled under the restrictions.

A check of other publicly-operated fountains Thursday showed Charlotte-Douglas Airport had turned off the fountain under the Queen Charlotte statue in front of the arrivals terminal.

A large fountain near the College Street entrance of the Charlotte Convention Center was still operating Thursday.

Tim Newman, CEO of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, which oversees the convention center, said the fountain’s refill valve had been turned off and the pumps would be shut down when the current water supply has evaporated.