The town of Rocky Mount lifted a mandatory water restriction Friday, 11 days after the conservation order was put in place.

The water flow in Blackwater River, the town's only water source, has bounced back from a record low at the end of August: 1.5 cubic feet per second, town officials said.

After the remnants of a tropical storm drenched the region, the river was holding at near 20 cubic feet per second on Friday, and more showers were expected this weekend.

"With rain in the forecast, I feel confident that our water supply is in good shape," Jonathan Coleman, the town water plant's lead operator, said in a news release.

Under the restriction, believed to be the town's first, about 3,000 water customers were forbidden from watering plants and lawns, filling swimming pools or washing their cars at home.

A water abuse hotline was set up to report rule breakers, which received "a few phone calls," but led to no fines, said Matt Hankins, assistant town manager.

On its best days, the restriction cut water consumption about 20 percent, from a daily average of 1 million gallons down to about 800,000, he said.

The historic drought also prompted Rocky Mount to explore its options for staying hydrated.

On Aug. 26, with the Blackwater flowing at its lowest, the town trucked in two loads of water -- including one from Bedford County -- as a practice run, the town manager said. But that same day, remnants of Tropical Storm Fay arrived, bringing rainfall and relief.

"Our long-term solution is to find another source of water," Hankins said, which could include cooperation with the Western Virginia Water Authority. In the meantime, the town is hoping for decent precipitation through the winter.

"The droughts don't last forever, unless you're in the Sahara," Hankins said.