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Morganton moves to Stage 2 low‑inflow protocol; city asks residents to cut water use 10%
Summary
City water staff said the Catawba River Basin low inflow protocol placed the area in Stage 2 and asked customers to reduce water use 10% versus their last bill; the city announced mandatory outdoor watering hours and internal operational reductions including postponed splash pad openings.
Morganton’s director of water resources said the city has entered a Stage 2 low‑inflow protocol for the Catawba River Basin and directed customers to reduce water use by 10% compared with their previous month’s bill.
Randy Smith, director of water resources, told the council the Catawba Water Drought Management Advisory Group uses three triggers — stream flows, reservoir storage and the U.S. Drought Monitor — to set drought stages. He said stream‑flow indicators are the limiting factor and that the local three‑month averages have pushed the basin into Stage 2.
Why it matters: Stage 2 triggers mandatory conservation steps that affect residential and municipal water use. Smith summarized the city’s required and recommended actions and asked residents to comply to avoid escalation to Stage 3.
The city’s Stage 2 measures include limiting irrigation and landscaping watering to 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.; prohibiting the use of water to wash impervious surfaces such as driveways and sidewalks (except for public‑health or safety reasons); and asking customers to adopt indoor and outdoor conservation practices (fix leaks, shorten showers, full loads for dishwashers and laundry, mulching, covering pools and reusing rinse water where practical). Municipal measures include suspending irrigation of ballfields and parks, reducing watering of planters and grounds, postponing opening of splash pads at Martha’s Park and MLK Park, shutting non‑drinking decorative fountains, postponing hydrant flushing and reducing vehicle washing unless required for public health or emergencies.
Smith said, “So in our phase 2 or stage 2 mandatory restrictions, all customers are expected to reduce their water use by 10% in comparison to their previous month's water bill.”
City officials said the low‑inflow protocol is managed regionally and will be adjusted if all three triggers warrant a change; staff will continue to monitor reservoir and stream conditions and report back to the council if conditions worsen. The council did not take a vote on the drought briefing; it was presented for information and to publicize required conservation steps.