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Union County declares Stage 2 drought restrictions as water demand spikes
Summary
Union County moved to Stage 2 drought restrictions on May 15; county staff warned of sustained conditions and outlined mandatory limits including two-days-per-week irrigation, bans on home car washing and potential escalating fines.
Union County water officials told commissioners on May 18 that the county has moved to Stage 2 drought restrictions under the Catawba Basin Low-Inflow Protocol and that customers should expect mandatory limits and potential penalties as enforcement ramps up.
"We're in a drought," Aubrey Lofton, Union County Water Planning and Resource Management director, told the board, and noted that April water demand rose about "37% increase in demand over last year." Lofton said the Drought Management Advisory Group’s triggers (reservoir levels, six-month streamflow and the U.S. Drought Monitor) had pushed the basin to Stage 2.
Under Stage 2, county staff highlighted key mandatory restrictions: spray irrigation (typical lawn irrigation) is limited to two days per week — even-numbered addresses on Tuesdays and Saturdays; odd-numbered addresses on Wednesdays and Sundays — and watering is not allowed between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Home car washing at residences is prohibited; commercial car washes may remain open. Filling new pools and nonessential washing of public sidewalks and streets are restricted except to protect aquatic life. Lofton said enforcement begins with education and warnings and can escalate to fines (up to $200 at Stage 2) and service disconnection for noncompliance.
Lofton said the county declared Stage 2 on May 15 and that usage beginning May 16 will be subject to the new rates and potential escalations. He encouraged customers to use unionconserves.com and the AMI customer portal to monitor usage, and warned that recovery to Stage 1 will require months of sustained rain because the relevant triggers are multi-month averages.
What residents should know: the county will prioritize education before enforcement but can and will apply penalties under the county’s water shortage response plan; customers using large irrigation volumes (more than roughly 10,000 gallons per month) can expect rate escalations. The county plans communications through its website, social media and the Union County Horizon newsletter.
