Drought & Conservation

Understanding Charlotte’s Current Drought Conditions

The Charlotte region is currently experiencing drought conditions due to ongoing dry weather and below-average rainfall across the Catawba-Wateree River Basin.


The Catawba-Wateree River Basin is a shared water supply that supports nearly two million people across North and South Carolina. It provides drinking water, supports businesses and industry, protects environmental resources, and powers recreation throughout the region.
Because so many communities rely on the same water system, drought conditions require a coordinated regional response.

graphic of a dial showing stage 2 mandatory water restrictions are in effect


Charlotte Water works closely with regional partners, including Duke Energy and the Drought Management Advisory Group, to monitor conditions and protect the long-term reliability of our water supply. Several factors are reviewed regularly, including lake and river levels, streamflow conditions, rainfall totals, and data from the U.S. Drought Monitor.


While recent rainfall may temporarily improve conditions, drought recovery takes time. The region needs consistent rainfall over an extended period to significantly improve lake levels and restore long-term water supplies.

photo of boat on ground due to low lake levels
Taken by Cam Coley, employee City of Charlotte, Charlotte Water


Water conservation plays an important role in protecting our shared water resources during drought conditions. Reducing non-essential water use helps preserve water for essential community needs like drinking water, firefighting, healthcare, and public safety.

Customers can help by:
• Repairing leaks promptly
• Reducing outdoor water use
• Watering efficiently
• Running full loads of laundry and dishes
• Taking shorter showers
• Following current water restrictions

Charlotte Water also continues responding to leaks throughout Mecklenburg County during drought conditions. Our crews prioritize repairs based on public safety concerns, water loss, service impacts, and the severity of the leak. You can learn more about how leaks are prioritized and repaired here:
“How Charlotte Water Staff Prioritize Leaks”


Customers looking for ways to conserve water and reduce waste can also explore:
“Save Money, Save Water”
“Fixing at-home leaks”

Charlotte Water will continue monitoring conditions closely and providing updates as needed. Additional drought resources, conservation tips, and restriction information are available at charlottewater.org.


Drought response is a shared regional effort, and conservation from every customer helps protect the long-term reliability of our water supply.


Every drop counts.

General, Repairs and Spills, What's Going On?

Charlotte Water Responding to Main Leak on East 37th Street

Hi, Queen City! We’re sharing a quick update on emergency repair work taking place in the NoDa area.

What Happened

Charlotte Water received reports of a water main leak near the intersection of East 37th and North Davidson streets.

Our team was on-site quickly to assess the situation and reduce water flow on the street. Direct notifications were sent to neighbors within a three-block radius who may be impacted by temporary service disruptions or low pressure.

What Happens Next

  • CLTWater crews are coordinating with local utility partners to locate underground gas and telecommunication lines so our crews can dig safely.
  • Our team will excavate the site to reach the leaking pipe, complete the necessary repairs, and gradually restore full water pressure.
  • After repairs are made, CLTWater will flush the system and test the water quality. Once testing clears, we’ll send a final alert notifying impacted customers that service is fully restored.

We know water disruptions are a big inconvenience, and we truly appreciate your patience while our crews work to get everything fixed as quickly and safely as possible.

Additional details about our leak investigation, repair prioritization and repair process: How Charlotte Water Prioritizes Leaks | Charlotte Water Blog

Events, News, What's Going On?

Neighbor Helping Neighbor: Charlotte Water Answers the Call

When emergencies impact water systems, utilities across North Carolina work together to help communities recover. That’s exactly what Charlotte Water is doing by providing assistance to Anson County as it continues recovery efforts following recent impacts to its water system.

Two Charlotte Water pickup trucks

As part of long-standing mutual aid partnerships, Charlotte Water has deployed crews to support Anson County with system flushing, an important step in restoring water quality. At the same time, water samples from Anson County are being analyzed at Charlotte Water’s state-certified laboratory, helping expedite the testing process and provide timely, accurate results.

Mutual aid agreements allow water utilities to share specialized personnel, equipment and technical expertise when emergencies occur. This collaboration helps affected communities recover more quickly while ensuring critical services continue uninterrupted.

Charlotte Water has the personnel and laboratory capacity to support Anson County while continuing to provide safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services to our own customers. There is no impact to Charlotte Water operations or service levels.

“Helping neighboring communities during times of need is part of what we do,” said Charlotte Water Director Angela Charles. “Our mutual aid partnerships strengthen our region’s resilience and ensure utilities can support one another when unexpected challenges arise.”

Charlotte Water remains in close coordination with Anson County and regional utility partners throughout the recovery effort.

Residents seeking information about Anson County’s water system operations, boil water advisory, restoration timeline or other local response efforts should contact Anson County officials, who are leading the incident response.

At Charlotte Water, we’re proud to support our neighbors and demonstrate the strength of regional partnerships that help keep communities safe.

General

Charlotte Water Successfully Completes Water Main Repair; Detour and Stage 2 Water Restrictions Remain in Effect

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte Water has successfully completed repairs to a 12-inch water main that broke Friday in the 1000 block of Queens Road. Because the pipe was adjacent to a critical 54-inch transmission main, crews worked continuously overnight to isolate the damage and protect the larger system.

While repairs continue on an additional water main, the immediate emergency has passed. Customers may now resume following the standard Stage 2 drought restrictions in effect across the Charlotte Water service area. Because regional drought conditions persist, ongoing water conservation remains essential.

Crews will remain in the area over the coming days to complete site restoration. Consequently, a traffic detour will remain in place for several days; motorists should follow the posted signs on the attached map.

Charlotte Water extends its sincere appreciation to customers, residents, and commuters for their patience, flexibility, and conservation efforts throughout this response.

“Our crews worked around the clock to safely complete this repair while protecting one of the region’s most critical water transmission mains,” said Angela Charles, Director of Charlotte Water. “We’re grateful to our customers for reducing water use during the emergency and ask everyone to continue conserving water by following the Stage 2 drought restrictions. Every gallon saved helps protect our water resources while drought conditions persist.”

For complete Stage 2 drought restrictions and water conservation information, visit CharlotteWater.org or follow Charlotte Water on social media.

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