Current Stage of Water Restrictions

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Union County practice water conservation year-round, regardless of drought status.

The type and severity of conservation restrictions do vary, based on the current level of water shortage.

This page provides Union County Water's current stage of water shortage, so that our customers know exactly what restrictions are in effect at any given time.

Current Water Shortage Stage: 0

effective Jan. 22, 2024

Stage 0 calls for mandatory restrictions on the use of water for irrigation.

In this stage, our customers (residential and commercial) are limited to a maximum of three irrigation days per week. Your assigned irrigation days are based on your address. For example, 100 Main Street is an even-numbered address and 101 Main Street is an odd-numbered address.

The mandatory outdoor irrigation schedule applies to all spray irrigation systems and allows customers to irrigate according to the following schedule:

Even-numbered addresses may irrigate once daily on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Odd-numbered addresses may irrigate once daily on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
No customers are permitted to irrigate on Mondays.
Drip irrigation and hand watering (hose, watering can, etc.) are allowed any day of the week.
Customers are encouraged to review our helpful Homeowner's Guide to Irrigation Systems, as well as the voluntary water conservation strategies found at UnionConserves.com and in our Water Shortage Response Plan.
Review the complete list of mandatory and voluntary conservation measures for each stage of water conservation, published at the bottom of this page.

Irrigation Restrictions for Various Stages of Water Shortage

irrigation days schedule

Penalties for Irrigation Violations

penalties for irrigation schedule violations

Conservation Stages & Associated Restrictions

Union County's Water Shortage Response Plan calls for specific mandatory and voluntary conservation measures at five distinct stages of conservation levels, as shown below.

Note: "Essential Water Use" means the use of water necessary for firefighting, health and safety, and sustaining human and animal life. Therefore, these restrictions mainly apply to residential customers (not commercial, industrial, or institutional).

Stage 0

Mandatory Restrictions for All Customers

Residential customer spray irrigation system use shall be limited to three days per week.
Residential customers with even addresses (i.e. 1202 Main St.) may only use spray irrigation systems on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Residential customers with odd addresses (i.e. 1203 Main St.) may only use spray irrigation systems on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
No residential customer may use spray irrigation systems on Mondays.

Voluntary/Encouraged

Use flow-restrictive, water-saving devices and methods. Faucets should not be left running while shaving, brushing teeth, or washing dishes.
Limit the use of clothes and dish washing machines to running only full loads.
Inspect and repair all leaks and defective components of water delivery systems in any structures (faucets, toilets, equipment, etc.) in a timely manner.
Reuse household water to water plants.

Stage 1

Mandatory Restrictions for All Customers

Residential customer spray irrigation system use shall be limited to three days per week.
Residential customers with even addresses (i.e. 1202 Main St.) may only use spray irrigation systems on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Residential customers with odd addresses (i.e. 1203 Main St.) may only use spray irrigation systems on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
No residential customer may use spray irrigation systems on Mondays.
The transport of water from within the County to outside of the County by tanker truck from a hydrant of the County water utility system is prohibited (exceptions for emergency fire protection and bona fide farm uses).

Voluntary/Encouraged

Use flow-restrictive, water-saving devices and methods. Faucets should not be left running while shaving, brushing teeth, or washing dishes.
Limit the use of clothes and dish washing machines to running only full loads.
Inspect and repair all leaks and defective components of water delivery systems in any structures (faucets, toilets, equipment, etc.) in a timely manner.
Reuse household water to water plants.
Limit spray irrigation system use to no more than two days per week.
Use spring-activated nozzles when watering lawns and gardens by hand with ahose.
Limit residential vehicle, or any other type of mobile equipment, washing to your designated spray irrigation system use days

Stage 2

Mandatory Restrictions for All Customers

Residential customer spray irrigation system use shall be limited to two days per week, and only between the hours of 12:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Residential customers with even addresses (i.e. 1202 Main St.) may only use spray irrigation systems on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Residential customers with odd addresses (i.e. 1203 Main St.) may only use spray irrigation systems on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
No residential customer may use spray irrigation systems on Mondays.
The transport of water from within the County to outside of the County by tanker truck from a hydrant of the County water utility system is prohibited (exceptions for emergency fire protection and bona fide farm uses).
Eliminate personal vehicle washing unless using a commercial carwash. - Eliminate the filling of new swimming pools and fountains (exceptions for essential water use). - Eliminate public building, sidewalk, and street washing activities (exceptions for Essential Water Use). - Limit construction uses of water (e.g. dust control). - Limit flushing and hydrant testing programs, except as necessary to maintain water quality or in other special circumstances.

Voluntary/Encouraged

Use flow-restrictive, water-saving devices and methods. Faucets should not be left running while shaving, brushing teeth, or washing dishes.
Limit the use of clothes and dish washing machines to running only full loads.
Inspect and repair all leaks and defective components of water delivery systems in any structures (faucets, toilets, equipment, etc.) in a timely manner.
Reuse household water to water plants.
Use spring-activated nozzles when watering lawns and gardens by hand with a hose.

Stage 3

Mandatory Restrictions for All Customers

Residential customer spray irrigation system use shall be limited to one day per week, and only between the hours of 12:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Residential customers with even addresses (i.e. 1202) may only use spray irrigation systems on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Residential customers with odd addresses (i.e. 1203) may only use spray irrigation systems on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
No residential customer may use spray irrigation systems on Mondays.
The transport of water from within the County to outside of the County by tanker truck from a hydrant of the County water utility system is prohibited (exceptions for emergency fire protection and bona fide farm uses).
Eliminate personal vehicle washing unless using a commercial carwash.
Eliminate the filling of all swimming pools, hot tubs, fountains, and decorative ponds (exceptions for supporting aquatic life and essential water use).
Eliminate public building, sidewalk, and street washing activities (exceptions for essential water use).
Eliminate construction uses of water (e.g. dust control).
Eliminate flushing and hydrant testing programs, except as necessary to maintain water quality or in other special circumstances.
Eliminate the serving of drinking water from the County water system in restaurants, cafeterias, and other food establishments (except upon patron request).

Voluntary/Encouraged

Use flow-restrictive, water-saving devices and methods. Faucets should not be left running while shaving, brushing teeth, or washing dishes. - Limit the use of clothes and dish washing machines to running only full loads.
Inspect and repair all leaks and defective components of water delivery systems in any structures (faucets, toilets, equipment, etc.) in a timely manner.
Reuse household water to water plants.
Use spring-activated nozzles when watering lawns and gardens by hand with ahose.
Encourage industrial/manufacturing process changes that reduce water use.

Stage 4

Mandatory Restrictions for All Customers

No residential customer may use water outside a structure for any use other than a fire emergency.
The transport of water from within the County to outside of the County by tanker truck from a hydrant of the County water utility system is prohibited (exceptions for emergency fire protection).
All non-essential water use (including all residential irrigation, irrigation of commercial stock, and filling of ponds to sustain aquatic life) is prohibited.
Require the use of disposable utensils and plates at all restaurants, cafeterias, and other food establishments.

Voluntary/Encouraged

Use flow-restrictive, water-saving devices and methods. Faucets should not be left running while shaving, brushing teeth, or washing dishes.
Limit the use of clothes and dish washing machines to running only full loads.
Inspect and repair all leaks and defective components of water delivery systems in any structures (faucets, toilets, equipment, etc.) in a timely manner.
Reuse household water to water plants.
Encourage industrial/manufacturing process changes that reduce water use.

Union County, NC - Water

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Current Stage of Water Restrictions

Current Water Shortage Stage: 0

Irrigation Restrictions for Various Stages of Water Shortage

Penalties for Irrigation Violations

Conservation Stages & Associated Restrictions

Mandatory Restrictions for All Customers

Mandatory Restrictions for All Customers