Drought
City of Hickory Drought Status - LIP Stage 1
Voluntary Reduction
Nov. 2, 2026 - Present: The City of Hickory has lifted mandatory water use restrictions following improved conditions in the Catawba-Wateree River Basin. The change comes after the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group (CW-DMAG) today announced the basin's return to Stage 1 of the Low Inflow Protocol (LIP).
LIP Stage
1
Stage 1 LIP
The return to Stage 1 means mandatory restrictions on nonessential water use that were required under Stage 2 are no longer in effect for customers served by the City of Hickory water system and its partner systems.
Recent rainfall has increased water storage in reservoirs and improved stream flows throughout the Catawba-Wateree River Basin, resulting in more favorable water supply conditions across the region. The basin entered Stage 1 on April 16, 2026, and advanced to Stage 2 on May 1, 2026, as ongoing dry weather and below-average rainfall dating back to September 2025 reduced reservoir storage and stream flows.
Stage 1 is the second-lowest drought stage within the five-stage Low Inflow Protocol, which ranges from Stage 0 to Stage 4. The protocol helps major water users throughout the basin coordinate conservation efforts and manage shared water resources during drought conditions. Stage determinations are based on factors including reservoir levels, tributary inflows, and drought conditions identified by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Voluntary Conservation
While mandatory restrictions have been lifted, the City encourages residents and businesses to continue practicing voluntary water conservation to help protect regional water resources and support long-term water supply reliability.
The goal is to reduce overall water use by 3-5%. Customers are encouraged to help meet this target by taking simple steps such as:
- Watering outdoors no more than one inch per week
- Avoiding watering during daytime hours
- Reducing residential vehicle washing
Customers are asked to maintain this 3-5% reduction until further notice.
Lake neighbors who withdraw water from the Catawba-Wateree lakes are encouraged by Duke Energy to limit water use and irrigate no more than two days per week (Tuesdays and Saturdays).
Areas Affected
The return to Stage 1 applies to all customers and partner systems served by the City of Hickory water system, including:
- All 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 Effort to Manage Water Wisely
For more than 20 years, the City of Hickory has worked in partnership with Duke Energy and other major water suppliers along the Catawba River to manage the region’s water through a coordinated approach known as the Low Inflow Protocol (LIP). This shared management plan ensures that every community in the basin is making thoughtful, consistent decisions during times of drought or low water availability.
During drought periods, the Catawba‑Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group monthly reviews lake levels, streamflows, groundwater conditions, and other indicators. In the LIP, drought stages are determined by the following three indicators: (1) how much water is in the reservoirs, (2) how much water is flowing into the reservoirs, and (3) the U.S. Drought Monitor, a government site that indicates areas experiencing a drought and the drought’s severity. Duke Energy performs a monthly evaluation of the three indicators and issues a report to all large water users along the Catawba, indicating which stage the basin is in and what actions should be taken to help conserve water. LIP stages are updated on the first and sixteenth days of the month. There are five stages with specific actions detailed for each stage:
- Stage 0 (Watch): Initial monitoring and voluntary conservation.
- Stage 1 (Voluntary Reductions): Goal is 3-5% reduction. Specific watering schedules are encouraged, and car washing should be minimized.
- Stage 2 (Mandatory Reductions): Goal is 5-10% reduction. Discretionary water uses are restricted, and public water suppliers start enforcing measures.
- Stage 3 (Severe): Stricter mandatory measures to achieve higher reductions.
- Stage 4 (Emergency): Highest restriction level, ensuring water is available for essential needs.
Working Together for Our Community
Water conservation is a shared responsibility. It protects our local water supply, supports regional stability, and helps ensure the Catawba River Basin remains a healthy and reliable resource for everyone.
If drought conditions continue, higher level LIP stages may be declared, which require mandatory restrictions on water usage. The City of Hickory will keep you informed as conditions change. To learn more, please contact Public Utilities at 828-323-7427 or check out these online resources :
Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group