Camden Water Restrictions 2026
Kershaw County · South Carolina
Published:
Restrictions Active - Stage 2 LIP Mandatory: In Effect Since May 1, 2026
2
Days/Week
6:00 PM to 6:00 AM (overnight only)
Allowed Hours
Standard Stage 2 ordinance range; verify current amounts with City of Camden Water Utility
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
Enter the last digit of your street address:
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| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Odd addresses | Tuesday & Saturday |
| Even addresses | Wednesday & Sunday |
Allowed Watering Hours
Camden Stage 2 LIP mandatory rules limit lawn and landscape irrigation to 2 days per week, overnight only (6 PM to 6 AM). Odd addresses water Tuesdays and Saturdays; even addresses water Wednesdays and Sundays. Hand watering, drip irrigation, and soaker hoses remain permitted any time outside the 6 AM to 6 PM blackout. Camden Water Utility customer service can confirm address parity and provide variance information.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Hand watering with a shut-off hose, watering can, or bucket is permitted any day, any time outside the 6 AM to 6 PM blackout window for landscape plants, trees, shrubs, and food crops..
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
Standard Stage 2 ordinance range; verify current amounts with City of Camden Water Utility
Mandatory Stage 2 LIP enforcement has been in effect since May 1, 2026. City of Camden Water Utility handles complaints and conducts patrols within its service area.
Citations begin May 1, 2026 (regional declaration)🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
South Carolina's HOA Reform Act (effective 2018) limits HOA authority to require actions conflicting with state or local drought emergency orders. CW-DMAG Stage 2 LIP supersedes HOA covenants requiring lawn watering outside the assigned schedule. Document the order if your HOA challenges a brown lawn during the 2026 restriction period.
If your homeowners association sends a violation notice for a dormant or brown lawn during the current restriction period, respond in writing citing the applicable law and include a copy of the City of Camden Water Utility's current restriction order. Most HOAs will rescind the notice once they are made aware of the legal protections in place. If the issue persists, contact your county’s code enforcement division for assistance.
Why These Restrictions Exist
Camden, South Carolina sits at the downstream end of the Catawba-Wateree River basin. The city draws its water from Lake Wateree, the southernmost reservoir in the chain and the final storage step before the Wateree River flows on toward the Santee River system. Lake Wateree is downstream of every other reservoir in the Catawba-Wateree chain (Lookout Shoals, Mountain Island, Lake Wylie, Fishing Creek, Cedar Creek, Wateree itself), which means upstream conservation efforts directly affect Camden's supply.
On May 1, 2026, the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group (CW-DMAG) declared Stage 2 of the regional Low Inflow Protocol, the first Stage 2 since 2009. Camden's restrictions reflect the basin-wide framework rather than purely local supply conditions: even though South Carolina has received more rainfall than the upper-basin NC drought area, Camden's Lake Wateree supply depends on releases from upstream reservoirs that are themselves under pressure. The basin operates as a coordinated system under the LIP.
Stage 2 mandatory rules apply across all Catawba-Wateree LIP cities including Camden
- Lawn and landscape irrigation: max 2 days per week
- Hours: 6 PM to 6 AM ONLY
- Odd addresses water Tue/Sat; even addresses Wed/Sun
- Hand watering, drip, soaker hoses: still permitted
Nearby SC cities under the same Stage 2 LIP include Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Lancaster, Indian Land, Clover, and York County. Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Stanly, Union, and Iredell Counties (NC) are at D4 exceptional drought upstream.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Camden area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Camden Water Restrictions
10 tips tailored for Camden homeowners during Stage 2 LIP Mandatory: In Effect Since May 1, 2026 restrictions.
Camden sits in the SC sandhills transition zone with predominantly warm-season Bermuda and Zoysia lawns. Both tolerate 4 to 6 weeks of summer dormancy and recover quickly with fall rains.
Program your controller now for Stage 2: odd addresses Tue/Sat, even Wed/Sun, 6 PM to 6 AM only. Set start times so cycles finish before 6 AM.
Lake Wateree is downstream of every other Catawba-Wateree reservoir. Upstream conservation in NC and upper SC affects your supply more than local rainfall.
Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is unrestricted. Prioritize mature trees, shrubs, and food crops over turf.
Cycle-and-soak (5 min run, 30 min rest, repeat) is essential on Camden's sandy-loam soils to prevent runoff and direct water to roots.
Bermuda and Zoysia handle drought dormancy well. Let browning happen rather than stress-watering on off days.
Mow Bermuda at 2.5 to 3 inches and Zoysia at 2 to 2.5 inches through summer to shade soil and reduce evapotranspiration.
Skip nitrogen fertilizer June to September. Forced growth during restrictions creates demand the lawn cannot support.
Monitor cityofcamden.org and duke-energy.com/Community/Lakes/Drought-Management-Advisory weekly. Stage updates posted 1st and 16th of each month.
Camden is one of South Carolina's oldest cities; many heritage trees on residential lots predate modern irrigation. Prioritize deep, infrequent hand watering for established trees over turf irrigation.
Camden Water Restriction FAQs
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