Charlotte Water ended its mandatory drought restrictions Nov. 2, 2026, as improving conditions across the Catawba-Wateree River Basin allowed the utility to move to voluntary conservation.
The change puts Charlotte Water in Stage 1 of the regional Low Inflow Protocol, down from mandatory Stage 2. In its Nov. 2 announcement, the utility said customers no longer face mandatory water-use restrictions but should continue reducing nonessential use and avoiding waste.
For Ballantyne residents served by Charlotte Water, that means outdoor watering is no longer subject to the utility’s mandatory drought limits. Conservation remains encouraged.
Six months of mandatory limits
The basin entered Stage 1 on April 16 and escalated to Stage 2 on May 1, following below-average rainfall dating to September 2025. The return to Stage 1 ends roughly six months of mandatory conservation measures.
Recent rainfall improved reservoir storage and streamflows across the basin, according to Catawba County’s Nov. 3 update. The regional drought protocol has five stages, from Stage 0 through Stage 4, and considers lake levels, tributary inflows and the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Voluntary watering guidance
Charlotte Water’s customer guidance asks residents to limit outdoor watering to assigned overnight periods. Under Stage 1, conservation is voluntary:
- Odd-numbered addresses: Tuesday at 6 p.m. through Wednesday at 6 a.m., and Saturday at 6 p.m. through Sunday at 6 a.m.
- Even-numbered addresses: Wednesday at 6 p.m. through Thursday at 6 a.m., and Sunday at 6 p.m. through Monday at 6 a.m.
The utility’s guidance allows hand watering and drip irrigation, including soaker hoses, at any time for plants and gardens.
Customers should follow their own water supplier’s guidance. The move to voluntary conservation reflects improving conditions; Charlotte Water continues to encourage careful use of the region’s water supply.
