City of Hickory remains in Stage 2 Low Inflow Protocol despite recent rainfall

Recent rainfall has provided some welcome relief, but it has not been enough to lift the City of Hickory or the Catawba‑Wateree River Basin out of drought conditions. The City of Hickory remains in Stage 2 of the Low Inflow Protocol (LIP), which includes mandatory water use restrictions for all customers.

While the rain may appear encouraging, the factors that determine drought stage—reservoir levels, inflow rates, and U.S. Drought Monitor conditions—have not improved sufficiently to move the region out of Stage 2.

Why We Are Still in Stage 2
Each month, the Catawba‑Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group (CW‑DMAG) reviews lake levels, streamflows, groundwater conditions, and other indicators. Despite recent precipitation, the water entering the reservoirs remains too low, and drought designations have not shifted enough to justify reducing restrictions.

In short: the rain helped, but not enough.

What Stage 2 Means
Stage 2 is the third of five drought stages and requires a 5-10% reduction in overall water use. At this level, coordinated conservation across the community is essential to protect the region’s shared water resources until conditions improve.

Your cooperation now helps safeguard the water supply for all who rely on it.

Mandatory Water Use Restrictions
All City of Hickory water customers, including partner jurisdictions served by the city, must follow these measures:

Irrigation Schedule

• Odd addresses: Tuesdays and Saturdays
• Even addresses: Thursdays and Sundays
• Unnumbered addresses: Tuesdays and Saturdays

Additional Requirements

• No residential vehicle washing
• Reduce overall water use; shift discretionary use to early morning or late evening
• Do not operate ornamental fountains or water features that do not support animal life
• Do not fill residential swimming pools
• Do not top off pools outside assigned irrigation days

Prohibited Activities & Penalties

The following activities are not allowed during Stage 2:

• Watering lawns or turf outside the allowed schedule
• Operating ornamental water features without animal life
• Filling residential swimming pools
• Topping off pools outside assigned days

Violations may result in surcharges on your utility bill and potential loss of service:

• First violation: $100 (≤1.5” meter) or $200 (≥2” meter)
• Second violation: $200 (≤1.5” meter) or $400 (≥2” meter)
• Third violation: $300 (≤1.5” meter)  or $600 (≥2” meter)

Customers with more than five violations risk loss of irrigation water service.

Areas Affected
Restrictions apply to all water customers served by the City of Hickory, including:

• Customers billed directly by the City of Hickory
• Cities of Conover and Claremont
• Towns of Brookford, Catawba, Long View, and Maiden
• Portions of Alexander and Catawba counties
• Icard Township Water Corporation

A Regional, Cooperative Effort
The Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group (CW‑DMAG), formed in 2006, brings together public water suppliers, industrial users, state and federal agencies, and Duke Energy to make coordinated decisions that protect the region’s shared water resources.

The City of Hickory works closely with these partners under the Low Inflow Protocol to ensure responsible, basin-wide water management during drought.

More Information
To learn more about drought conditions, Stage 2 restrictions, and water‑saving tips, visit www.hickorync.gov/drought. For additional water-saving resources, visit the Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group at www.catawbawatereewmg.org. Customers not served by the City of Hickory water system should contact their local water provider for guidance.