Water Restrictions Upgraded to Stage 1
Lake levels have improved greatly since August
Charlotte Water has moved to Low Inflow Protocol Stage 1, making water conservation voluntary as conditions improve across the Catawba-Wateree River Basin.
The utility credited customers with helping the region meet its water-use reduction goals. Although mandatory restrictions have been lifted, Charlotte Water encourages residents to continue conserving water by following recommended outdoor watering schedules, watering before 6 a.m. or after 6 p.m., repairing leaks promptly and avoiding unnecessary water use.
The Catawba-Wateree River Basin entered Stage 1 of its Low Inflow Protocol on April 16 and advanced to Stage 2 on May 1 as drought conditions worsened.
According to online data from Duke Energy, which monitors lake levels, Lake Norman has been at or near target levels since mid-September. The area also benefited from the remnants of Hurricane Isaias on Oct. 10-11, the first tropical system to bring significant rainfall to North Carolina since Hurricane Helene in September 2024.
