Stage 1 water restrictions start Monday in Raleigh. Here's what to know

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- As severe drought conditions continue across central North Carolina, Raleigh Water announced it will activate Stage 1 water-use restrictions beginning Monday, citing prolonged dry weather affecting key regional watersheds.

The drought has significantly impacted the watersheds that supply Falls Lake and Swift Creek, prompting city officials to take early action to conserve resources. Despite visible signs of drought -- including dry creeks and expanding shorelines -- Raleigh Water officials say the city's overall drinking water supply remains stable.

Falls Lake, Raleigh's primary water source, is currently at 84% of its water supply pool, a level officials describe as healthy for this time of year. Water levels may fluctuate depending on rainfall, seasonal demand, and natural lake cycles. Officials also emphasize that exposed shoreline is common during extended dry periods and does not necessarily indicate an immediate threat to drinking water availability.

Raleigh relies on Lake Benson and Lake Wheeler as secondary water supplies. Both reservoirs remain near full capacity.

Here's what you should know for Monday:

What are Stage 1 restrictions?

Stage 1 restrictions are designed to reduce nonessential water use while allowing residents to continue caring for their homes and landscapes.

Outdoor Watering Rules

Automatic and manual sprinklers may only be used between midnight and 10 a.m.:

• Odd-numbered addresses: Tuesdays
• Even-numbered addresses: Wednesdays

Hose-end sprinklers may be used 6-10 a.m. or 6-10 p.m. on the same address-based schedule.

Handheld hoses and drip irrigation systems may be used at any time.

Leaks in plumbing or service lines must be repaired within 48 hours of written notice.

A hose-end sprinkler is a device left unattended on the ground, while a handheld hose must be actively held by a person. Residents may water flowers and vegetable gardens with a handheld hose any day during Stage 1 restrictions.

SEE ALSO: Homeowners, gardeners adjust to water limits from drought as they start planting, lawn care

Indoor Use

Restaurants will serve tap water only upon request.

Hotels, motels, and B&Bs will ask guests staying more than one night to reuse towels and bedsheets.

Why restrictions are starting now?

Raleigh uses a Water Shortage Response Plan (WSRP) that relies on more than a century of weather and lake-level data to determine when conservation measures should begin. Officials say the plan's drought triggers are intentionally conservative, particularly after the city added 5.6 billion gallons of additional storage capacity at Falls Lake in 2019.

How will the City enforce these rules?

City leaders stress that enforcement will begin with education. Residents who violate restrictions will first receive a warning. Civil penalties will be issued for repeat violations.

Suspected violations can be reported to Raleigh Water Customer Care and Billing at 919-996-3245 or by email at Water.Conservation@raleighnc.gov.

Other common questions

City-operated splash pads and water features will remain open. Officials note these systems recirculate and treat water, classifying them similarly to swimming pools under state and national standards.

Raleigh Water also addressed questions about water use by data centers, confirming that while several exist in the service area, none are hyper-scale facilities that consume or evaporate large amounts of water. Most serve regional banking operations.

Municipalities and counties that purchase water from Raleigh are also required to implement conservation measures at least as restrictive as the City's, including communities served through Raleigh Water merger agreements.

Stay informed

Residents can monitor drought conditions and reservoir levels through the City's Water Supply and Drought Status webpage. Raleigh Water plans to provide weekly updates as conditions evolve.

For now, city leaders say cooperation is key: early conservation today could prevent stricter measures later if dry weather continues.