Lancaster County Water & Sewer District
Extended Dry Weather Moves
Catawba-Wateree Lake System into
Low Inflow Protocol Stage 2 Drought
Designation triggers mandatory conservation for major water users
to protect the basin's shared supply
LCWSD required to institute mandatory water restrictions and penalties for lack of compliance. LCWSD to use surcharge rates.
For Immediate Release
May 15, 2026: Due to continued extremely dry conditions, the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group (CW-DMAG) has announced that the Catawba-Wateree River Basin has entered Stage 2 of the Low Inflow Protocol (LIP). Stage 2 triggers mandatory water restrictions for all public water utilities and major water users, and it requires residents and businesses to reduce all non-essential water use to help protect the region’s shared water supply.
Since September 2025, below-average rainfall each month has reduced reservoir storage, and stream flows have fallen well below normal. As a member of the Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group, Lancaster County Water & Sewer District (LCWSD) is required to implement its Moderate Drought Phase/ CW-DMAG Stage 2.
Stage 2 requires mandatory reductions on all water use from LCWSD’s customers. (Stage 1 was reached on April 16, 2026.) The Stage 2 goal is to achieve a five to ten percent (5-10%) reduction in overall water use. To achieve the goal, LCWSD is issuing the following mandatory water use restrictions. More restrictions are possible if the goal is not met:
- Avoid lawn, garden or other heavy irrigation if possible.
- If you must water, please use the following schedule:
- Even number addresses: Tuesday and Saturdays from 2 am until 10 am.
- Odd or un-numbered addresses: Wednesdays and Sundays from 2am until 10 am.
- Eliminate non-essential uses such as refilling swimming pools, discretionary vehicle washing, decorative water features that do not support aquatic animal life, and discretionary power washing.
Mandatory restrictions in Stage 2 do not apply to essential, community and business uses. Some activities that are normally discretionary may still be allowed (e.g. power washing) if performed as a licensed business or for community-serving functions.
Public water utilities are also required to institute penalties for non-compliance. In LCWSD's case, the penalties are issued using Surcharge Rates. Under Surcharge Rates, Tier 2 customers using between 10,000 and 20,000 gallons will pay 2.5 times the Tier 1 rate. Tier 3 customers using more than 20,000 gallons of water will pay 3 times the Tier 1 rate. For a complete Surcharge Rate chart, visit www.lcwasd.org.
“Stage 2 drought conditions mean we have to act now to protect water supplies for essential needs,” said Jimmy Bagley, deputy city manager for Rock Hill and chair of the Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group. “Utilities and large users are implementing the required protocol measures, and we need residents and businesses to immediately cut back on nonessential water use.”
“This is the first time we have experienced Stage 2 drought conditions in the region since 2009. Acting now will help manage what could be a hot and dry summer,” said Phil Fragapane of Duke Energy, the CW-DMAG coordinator.
Established in 2006, the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group (CW-DMAG) monitors drought conditions and recommends coordinated actions among major basin water users. Members include public water suppliers, large industrial users, North Carolina and South Carolina resource agencies, federal agencies and Duke Energy.
The CW-DMAG and the LIP were developed during Duke Energy’s relicensing process for the Catawba-Wateree Hydroelectric Project and are included in its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) operating license. The CW-DMAG meets at least monthly when conditions reach Stage 0 or greater.
If community members have specific questions about mandatory water use restrictions, they're encouraged to contact LCWSD or visit our website at www.lcwasd.org
Please click link below for Drought Surcharges