NC Drought Deepens: Water Restrictions Urged

As of August 18, 2026, North Carolina continues to battle a year-long drought, with severe to exceptional conditions persisting across several counties. State officials with the Department of Environmental Quality reported that groundwater and reservoir levels remain below normal, prompting urgent calls for public water conservation.

While western parts of the state received heavier rainfall, leading to improvements in Macon, Jackson, and Transylvania counties, drought conditions elsewhere showed little change or worsened. Western Brunswick County remains classified in the exceptional drought category, the most severe, while Guilford, Rockingham, Caswell, Person, and Granville counties are in extreme drought. Warren and Halifax counties have seen their conditions deteriorate into extreme drought.

Water systems operating in counties facing exceptional or extreme drought are mandated to activate their Water Shortage Response Plans and enforce water reduction measures. These systems must submit weekly reports on water usage and conservation status. Local water utility providers are advised to implement restrictions on outdoor activities like lawn watering and car washing, encouraging residents to conserve water by washing only full loads of laundry and contacting their suppliers for specific guidelines.