In coordination with regional partners, the City of Concord, Town of Harrisburg, City of Kannapolis, and Town of Landis are moving to Level 1, Voluntary Water Conservation effective November 3, 2026.  The easing of restrictions follows improved drought conditions across the region, aided by the diligent efforts of residents over the last 24 weeks to conserve water.

While drought conditions have improved, the region’s water supply has not yet fully returned to normal conditions. Water customers are encouraged to continue working together to reduce unnecessary water use. Every drop counts, and small actions by customers add up to major impacts that support continued improvement and return to normal conditions.

Steps customers can take to voluntarily reduce their water use include:

• Water lawns and plants in the early morning or evening hours.
• Check for dripping faucets, running toilets, and plumbing leaks and make any necessary repairs.
• Take shorter showers. If a shower is not available, reduce the level of water used in the bathtub by 1-2 inches.
• Turn off the water while brushing teeth, washing your face, and shaving.
• Only run full loads of laundry.
• Only run the dishwasher when it is full.
• When washing dishes by hand, do not continuously run water while rinsing.
• Do not let the faucet continuously run while cleaning and cutting vegetables.
• Use commercial car washes that recycle water and limit washing vehicles at home. 
• Check irrigation systems to ensure they are optimized for the correct water usage.

Drought conditions are regularly monitored in coordination with regional partners, including the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group (DMAG). The Catawba-Wateree DMAG announced voluntary water conservation (Low Inflow Protocol Level 1) on November 2, 2026. 

The Low Inflow Protocol (LIP) is the regional drought management plan that water users in the Catawba River basin use to share responsibility and work together to conserve water. Because the City of Concord and the City of Kannapolis have an Inter Basin Transfer (IBT) agreement to draw water from the Catawba River basin, they are required to take similar, corresponding measures to reduce water use during droughts. This also applies to municipalities served by their systems, including Harrisburg and Landis.

Customer contacts for more information:

City of Concord, Customer Care

704-920-5555

ConcordNC.gov/DroughtResources

City of Kannapolis, Customer Care

704-920-4444

KannapolisNC.gov/Drought

Town of Harrisburg

704-455-5614

HarrisburgNC.gov

Town of Landis

704-857-2411

townoflandisnc.gov