Concord Pleads With Residents To Cut Water Use As Drought Drains Lake Howell

Concord is asking residents to ease up on the faucets and sprinklers, as a deepening drought starts to show up in the city’s own backyard. With reservoir levels slipping and a long, dry stretch gripping the region, officials are warning that voluntary cutbacks now could help the city dodge tougher rules later.

City Posts Voluntary Conservation Advisory

In a post on X, the City of Concord said voluntary water conservation is effective immediately, noting that Lake Howell is sitting about 11 inches below full. The city urged customers to skip lawn and garden watering during the heat of the day, take shorter showers, and wait to run dishwashers and washing machines until they are full.

That lake level is a noticeable drop from the city’s own table, last updated April 2, which still listed Howell as “Full” on the City of Concord Lake Level Data page.

Regional Drought Backdrop

The local warning comes as state monitors track a broad and worsening dry spell across the Carolinas. According to the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, 15 counties were in extreme drought in early April, and utilities in those areas were advised to follow their Water Shortage Response Plans.

County-level maps from the U.S. Drought Monitor show severe to extreme precipitation deficits around the Charlotte region, underscoring why Concord is trying to get ahead of the problem before it turns into a full-blown emergency.

How Residents Can Conserve

The city’s utility guidance leans on simple habits that can quietly save gallons every week: water lawns and gardens only before sunrise or after sunset, check toilets and faucets for leaks, avoid letting the tap run while brushing teeth, keep showers short, and wait for full loads before running dishwashers or washing machines. Those tips are outlined on the City of Concord Water Conservation page.

Those household moves line up with advice from the N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council, which urges communities in extreme drought, or D3 status, to protect limited supplies for essential needs.

What’s Next For Local Water Rules

The city has already hinted that tougher measures could be on the horizon if the skies do not cooperate. In its post on X, Concord warned that “additional mandatory water restrictions are possible” if drought conditions worsen.

State guidance says systems in extreme drought must report weekly and put their Water Shortage Response Plans into action, meaning Concord could shift from voluntary conservation to formal restrictions if raw water levels keep dropping, according to the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality. For now, residents are being urged to keep an eye on the city’s utility pages and the state’s drought tracker for updates and any new rules on outdoor watering.