Raleigh keeps Stage 1 water rules as drought persists

Raleigh is still under Stage 1 water restrictions because the drought has not eased enough to lift them. The city says central North Carolina remains in severe drought, and Falls Lake — the main source for Raleigh’s drinking water — is still below the trigger level for ending the restrictions.

Raleigh’s drought page, updated June 25, says the water supply pool is still at 64%, below the 85% trigger. The city also says the lake level itself does not tell the whole story, which is why officials are treating the situation as a conservation issue rather than an emergency shortage.

What the city is asking residents to do

Stage 1 mainly affects outdoor watering. In-ground irrigation systems, whether automatic or manual, are limited to midnight to 10 a.m. Odd-numbered addresses can water on Tuesdays; even-numbered addresses can water on Wednesdays. Hose-end sprinklers follow the same day limits, while handheld hoses, bucket watering, drip irrigation, athletic field irrigation, swimming pools and car washing are still allowed.

New landscape establishment permits are prohibited, and Raleigh will not grant new watering exemptions for landscaping installed after April 20. Property owners with earlier landscaping can apply for a 10-day variance. The city says it is using education, warning letters and then civil penalties if needed.

Why recent rain did not change much

WUNC reported June 23 that recent rain helped only a little, because rainfall has to hit the Falls Lake and Swift Creek watersheds to make a real difference. Buchan said water restrictions have been in place since April 20 and that Raleigh Water has moved from awareness into enforcement.

Drought.gov’s June 25 Southeast update said drought remains widespread in North Carolina, with long-term impacts still showing up across the state. For Raleigh residents, the practical takeaway is the same: keep irrigation limited and watch for updates, because one storm downtown does not reset the city’s drought status.

Sources

• City of Raleigh alert: Stage 1 water restrictions in place
• WUNC: Raleigh water restrictions and Falls Lake context
• WRAL: North Carolina drought update
• U.S. Drought Monitor / Drought.gov Southeast status update