CONOVER — City Manager Tom Hart declared a Stage 1 Low Inflow Protocol condition on April 17, 2026, asking Conover water customers to begin voluntary conservation after basin indicators met the Stage 1 threshold a day earlier.
The city said communities throughout the Catawba River Basin are asking customers to conserve because of reduced lake storage, decreasing stream flows, and drought. Conover, other major Catawba River water suppliers, and Duke Energy have used the Low Inflow Protocol for more than 20 years as a shared framework during drought or low water availability, the notice said.
Hart’s declaration followed the city’s Water Shortage Response Plan. The city tied it to lower lake storage, declining stream flows, and dry weather this year, with warmer temperatures adding evaporation.
The Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group reviews lake levels, streamflow, drought conditions, and groundwater each month during drought periods. On April 16, those indicators met the criteria for a Stage 1 LIP declaration, Conover said.
Stage 1 is the first phase of voluntary conservation. The stated goal is to reduce overall water use by 3-5 percent. Suggested steps listed on the city page include:
- Irrigate at a rate of no more than one inch of water per week
- Limit lawn and landscape irrigation to no more than two days a week: odd addresses on Tuesdays and Saturdays; even addresses on Thursdays and Sundays; unnumbered addresses on the even-address schedule
- Defer planting new ornamental plants and seeding lawns until the water emergency no longer exists
- Reduce residential vehicle washing
- Avoid watering during daytime hours (sunrise to sunset)
Customers are asked to maintain the 3-5 percent reduction until further notice. If drought continues, the city said, higher LIP stages with mandatory measures may be declared.
The April 17 notice does not list surcharges. Conover pointed customers with questions to their local water provider and to conservation tips at www.catawbawatereewmg.org.
Official release from City of Conover, April 17, 2026. https://www.conovernc.gov/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/38
