Charlotte Asks Residents to Cut Water Use Amid Drought

Voluntary limits start April 20, with outdoor watering capped and drought conditions worsening statewide.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 7:53pm

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A vast, hazy landscape painting in muted earth tones, with a cracked, parched ground and a heavy, oppressive sky, conveying the overwhelming scale and melancholy of a severe drought.The sweeping, atmospheric landscape of a drought-stricken region underscores the urgent need for water conservation efforts.Charlotte Today

Charlotte Water will roll out voluntary water restrictions on Monday, April 20, due to an ongoing drought across North Carolina. The goal is to reduce non-essential water use now to avoid mandatory restrictions in the future.

Why it matters

The Charlotte region is experiencing an extreme drought, and the voluntary water restrictions are part of the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group's Low Inflow Protocol to reduce water use during low inflows into the Catawba River basin.

The details

During the voluntary stage, Charlotte Water customers will be asked to limit outdoor watering to two days per week, avoid watering during the hottest parts of the day, limit watering to one inch per week, avoid washing driveways and streets, use car washes that recycle water, and repair water leaks as soon as possible.

  • Voluntary water restrictions will start on April 20, 2026.
  • Charlotte Water last implemented voluntary water restrictions in 2023.

The players

Charlotte Water

The public water utility for the city of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group

A group that includes local governments, Duke Energy, and natural resource managers that uses the Low Inflow Protocol to reduce water use during low inflows into the Catawba River basin.

WBTV

A local television news station serving the Charlotte, North Carolina region.

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What they’re saying

“Despite showers forecast for Sunday, they won't bring significant rainfall, and dry conditions are expected for most of the coming week.”

— Elissia Wilson, Meteorologist

What’s next

The Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group will continue to monitor the drought conditions and update the Low Inflow Protocol stages on the first and 16th of each month.

The takeaway

The voluntary water restrictions in Charlotte are a proactive measure to conserve water resources and avoid more severe mandatory restrictions in the future, as the region faces an extreme drought that is expected to continue in the coming weeks.