IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — People across the Carolinas are learning to live with new water restrictions as drought conditions worsen.
On Thursday, Charlotte Water announced it will implement voluntary restrictions on nonessential water use, such as watering your lawn or washing your car.
Charlotte Water is part of the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group. Officials say the extended dry weather has placed the basin in Stage 1 drought, meaning residents are encouraged to conserve water on a voluntary basis.
Duke Energy has also made operational adjustments at their facilities to preserve water and ensure public safety.
Water companies are asking customers to do their part in response to extreme drought conditions impacting much of the area. With little rain in the forecast and warmer temperatures ahead, these restrictions will be in place until further notice.
Charlotte Water asks all customers to take the following voluntary conservation actions:
- Limit outdoor watering to no more than two days per week: odd-numbered addresses: Tuesday and Saturday; even-numbered addresses: Wednesday and Sunday
- Avoid watering lawns during the peak heat of the day
- Limit watering to one inch per week, including rainfall
- Avoid washing hard surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks, and streets
- Use commercial car washes that recycle water, or minimize vehicle washing at home
- Repair leaks promptly in irrigation systems, outdoor spigots, and indoor plumbing
North Carolina has been under a statewide burn ban since March 28.
‘Serious threshold’
Lake Wylie’s water level is low, but some in Tega Cay still made the most of Thursday on the water.
Theo Huggins showed up at the Pitcairn boat launch to spend some time with friends.
The ramp is now closed because of the low water levels on the lake.
He said the drought has gotten so bad that it’s hard to do his job, which requires digging.
“It being so dry, it makes the ground like concrete,” Huggins said. “So, it’s hard for me to get what I need to do.”
In North Carolina, Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew above the Catawba River.
It was also low.
The river basin reservoirs have reached a stage 1 drought, according to the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group.
The reservoir water level is about 80% of what it is supposed to be.
“It means that we have crossed a pretty serious threshold,” said Brandon Jones, the Catawba Riverkeeper.
The last time we reached this level of drought was in 2015, Jones said.
He said if the reservoir levels drop to 75%, water usage restrictions become mandatory.
Jones said this is the least resilient our water system has ever been, mostly due to how many people are now using it.
“Our ability to mitigate them has gone down, because we just have more people here now,” he said. “More people are withdrawing more water. So, the same amount of water will be used up quicker.”
South Carolina has officially reissued its statewide burn ban. The state’s Forestry Commission said it will go into effect at 7 a.m. on Friday.
Iredell County
Iredell Water recently issued mandatory restrictions for all of its customers.
“I just hope we start getting some rain again because we definitely need it,” Randy Hobbs, an Iredell County resident, said. “Since I planted my garden, it hasn’t rained a bit, and we need some water.”
Iredell Water serves more than 28,000 people in the area. Their restrictions limit outdoor use, enforcing a schedule for lawn watering and a ban on nonessential uses, like filling pools or washing cars.
Iredell Water’s general manager, Danny Sloan, says they want to cut water usage by 10%.
“If everyone makes small changes, it adds up quickly and helps us avoid more severe restrictions later,” Sloan said.
Daytime watering is prohibited, and people can only water lawns one night a week on either Saturday or Sunday, depending on their address.
Michael Connor has lived in Iredell County all of his life and says he was frustrated to hear of all the restrictions at first.
“I feel a certain way for you telling me to slow down using my water that I already pay for,” he said.
However, he quickly changed his tune, saying it may be a necessary step.
“I would start to think twice about overusing water or just letting water run because if we are in a drought, people can’t control that,” Connor said. “That’s just nature. That’s just life. We have to come together as a community and try to fix those kind of things.”
If drought conditions continue, officials say even stricter limits could be on the way.
The current restrictions are only for Iredell Water Corporation customers. They are monitoring water demand, system conditions and drought status on a weekly basis. Other systems located in Iredell County, such as the City of Statesville, Energy United Water Corporation and the Town of Troutman, have their own restrictions in place. Customers should check with their specific provider for details.
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