Charlotte Water keeps Stage 2 limits; no fall overseeding

Charlotte Water’s mandatory Stage 2 water restrictions stay in place, even after recent heavy rain. The utility said Thursday that the six-month average streamflow in the Catawba-Wateree River Basin is still below normal.

Updated Oct. 25: Stage 2 is still in force. Water use was down 8.4% from the baseline as of Oct. 23, up from 5% on Oct. 9, according to Charlotte Water’s drought dashboard.

That matters most this month for anyone planning to overseed a lawn. Charlotte Water will not approve variances for routine fall lawn work, including aerating, overseeding or reseeding.

Why the rain did not end it

The Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group sets the drought stage for the region. It looks at three things:

• lake and reservoir levels
• U.S. Drought Monitor conditions
• the six-month average streamflow

Reservoir levels and drought-monitor conditions have improved, Charlotte Water said in its Oct. 15 update. Streamflow is the holdout. It reflects the long dry spell and recovers more slowly after a single rain event, the utility said.

The advisory group reviews the data every other week, according to Charlotte Water’s drought resources page. The restrictions took effect May 15. The last time Charlotte Water imposed mandatory restrictions was in 2007-2009.

When you can water

Outdoor watering is allowed only on your assigned nights, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next morning. Your schedule depends on the last digit of your service address.

Hand watering, soaker hoses and drip irrigation for plants and gardens are allowed at any time. Hand watering means you are holding the hose or watering can yourself. Large HOAs, apartment complexes and other multifamily properties follow the odd or even schedule for the service address on the water account.

What is not allowed

• washing your car at home (commercial car washes are allowed)
• filling a residential swimming pool; top-offs are allowed only on Thursdays and Sundays, before 6 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
• running a decorative fountain or water feature that does not support fish or other aquatic life
• discretionary power washing, unless a licensed business does it

The rules apply to city drinking water. Well water is not restricted, Charlotte Water said.

Fines

Charlotte Water can fine customers who break the rules. The amount depends on meter size.

Most homes have the smaller meter. A fine can be appealed through the utility’s online form.

How it is going so far

Charlotte Water publishes a drought dashboard. Its enforcement figures, as of Oct. 21, showed:

• 2,815 violations reported by the public, up from 2,597 on Oct. 8
• 541 variance requests received, and 255 approved
• 36 appeals received

The Stage 2 goal is to cut water use by 5% to 10%. As of Oct. 23, use was down 8.4% from the baseline, according to the dashboard. On Oct. 9 it was down 5%, the bottom of the target range.

What it means for you

• Hold off on overseeding unless you can keep the seed alive within your two watering nights a week, plus hand watering. Charlotte Water said the seasonal timing of lawn work does not count as a special circumstance.
• Check your address. Odd numbers water Tuesday and Saturday nights. Even numbers water Wednesday and Sunday nights.
• A variance is for real needs, such as vegetation required for erosion control, fire department training or fixing an unsanitary condition. Allow up to seven days for a reply. If the region moves to Stage 3, every variance expires and no new ones are approved.
• To report a violation, call 311 (704-336-7600) or use the online form with the address, date, time and activity.
• Look for leaks. Charlotte Water’s leak map shows reported leaks and repairs near any address.

For other city services, see our guide to who to call at City Hall.