Raeford water conservation requests depend on your utility

Raeford residents should check their water bill before changing outdoor watering or other water-use habits. Hoke County announced voluntary Stage 1 water conservation measures on July 7, 2026, but the measures apply to customers of the Hoke County Regional Water System—not automatically to every address in the City of Raeford.

The North Carolina Division of Water Resources lists the Hoke County Regional Water System as under voluntary drought restrictions. The same state database separately lists the City of Raeford water system as “Not Restricted.” That distinction means a Raeford mailing address alone does not determine whether the county’s Stage 1 requests apply.

What covered customers are being asked to do

Hoke County’s notice applies to residential, commercial and governmental customers of the Hoke County Regional Water System. The voluntary measures ask customers to reduce nonessential water use and to:

• Limit outdoor irrigation to the minimum needed.
• Avoid outdoor watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• Reduce vehicle washing where possible.
• Delay pressure washing and pool refills.
• Repair household leaks promptly.

The county’s Water Shortage Response Plan sets a Stage 1 conservation goal of reducing normal water use by 5%. That is a requested target, not a reduction the county says has already been achieved. The plan identifies Stage 1 as voluntary and provides no penalties for noncompliance at that stage.

How to determine which requests apply

Residents, landlords and businesses should first look at the utility name on the water bill or account information. If the bill identifies the Hoke County Regional Water System, the county’s voluntary conservation requests apply. If it identifies the City of Raeford water system, the state’s current listing shows that system as not restricted.

Customers who cannot identify their provider can contact the Hoke County Utilities Department at 910-875-6704 for water-related questions and service concerns. Hoke County Public Utilities describes itself as a regional water and wastewater provider serving approximately 37,500 people through about 12,500 connections in the county.

Why the county activated Stage 1

Hoke County cited drought conditions and increased seasonal demand when it issued the notice. Drought.gov data valid through July 29, 2026, reports that Hoke County remains affected by drought and had its third-driest January-through-June period in 132 years.

County officials said the Utilities Department is monitoring system levels daily and coordinating with state water-resources officials. The county notice says customers will be notified if conditions require escalation to Stage 2. For now, the practical question for Raeford households and businesses is which system serves the specific property.

Sources

• Hoke County Stage 1 Water Restriction Announcement
• NC Division of Water Resources Conservation Status
• Drought.gov Hoke County Conditions