Rock Hill Water Restrictions 2026
York County · South Carolina
Published:
Restrictions Active - Stage 2 LIP Mandatory - In Effect Since May 15, 2026
2
Days/Week
6:00 PM – 6:00 AM (overnight only)
Allowed Hours
$100 first offence; escalating per local utility ordinance
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
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| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Odd addresses | Tuesday & Saturday |
| Even addresses | Wednesday & Sunday |
Allowed Watering Hours
Stage 2 LIP mandatory rules: lawn and landscape irrigation limited to 2 days per week, overnight only (6 PM–6 AM). Odd addresses water Tuesdays and Saturdays. Even addresses water Wednesdays and Sundays. Pools may be topped off Thursdays and Sundays only, 6 PM–6 AM (no full fills). Prohibited under Stage 2: washing vehicles at home, charity/fundraiser car washes, power washing for non-essential purposes, and operating water features that do not support aquatic life. Hand watering, drip irrigation, and soaker hoses remain permitted.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Hand watering with a shut-off hose, watering can, or bucket is permitted any time outside the 6 AM–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
$100 first offence; escalating per local utility ordinance
Mandatory Stage 2 LIP enforcement has been in effect since May 15, 2026. First offences carry a $100 fine; repeat violations escalate per local utility ordinance. Local utility staff respond to complaints and conduct neighbourhood patrols. The CW-DMAG goal is to reduce regional water use by 5–10%.
Citations begin May 15, 2026🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
SC HOA law 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.
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 Rock Hill Utilities'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
Rock Hill, SC is part of the Catawba-Wateree River Basin and follows the regional Low Inflow Protocol (LIP) coordinated by the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group (CW-DMAG) with Duke Energy. On May 1, 2026 the CW-DMAG declared Stage 2 LIP (the first Stage 2 since 2009) and mandatory restrictions in effect since Friday, May 15, 2026 across all 24 counties in the basin (14 NC + 4 SC communities).
Stage 2 mandatory rules
- Lawn/landscape irrigation: max 2 days/week, 6 PM–6 AM only
- Odd addresses water Tuesdays and Saturdays; even addresses water Wednesdays and Sundays
- Residential pools: top-off only on Thursdays and Sundays, 6 PM–6 AM (no complete fills)
- No vehicle washing at home; no power washing; no charity car washes
- Decorative water features without aquatic life: prohibited
- Hand watering, drip irrigation, and soaker hoses: permitted any time outside the 6 AM–6 PM blackout
Goal: reduce regional water use by 5–10%. Fines start at $100. Drought stage is reviewed on the 1st and 16th of each month.
Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Stanly, and Union Counties are now in D4 'Exceptional' drought (the most severe US Drought Monitor classification) for the first time since 2008. Lake Norman, Lake Wylie, Lake Hickory, and other Catawba-Wateree reservoirs are showing visibly low water levels.
Rock Hill's Deputy City Manager Jimmy Bagley chairs the Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group that declared Stage 2 LIP on May 1, 2026.
Monitor Rock Hill Utilities (https://www.cityofrockhill.com/utilities) and duke-energy.com/Community/Lakes/Drought-Management-Advisory for current LIP stage.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Rock Hill area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Rock Hill Water Restrictions
10 tips tailored for Rock Hill homeowners during Stage 2 LIP Mandatory - In Effect Since May 15, 2026 restrictions.
Mandatory Stage 2 LIP has been in effect since May 15, 2026 in Rock Hill: programme your controller now with odd addresses Tue/Sat, even Wed/Sun, 6 PM–6 AM only.
Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle and drip/soaker hoses are still permitted any time outside the 6 AM–6 PM blackout. Prioritise mature trees over turf.
Tall Fescue (cool-season, common in the foothills/Piedmont) handles summer dormancy well; allow browning rather than stress-watering.
Pool top-ups are restricted to Thursdays and Sundays only, 6 PM–6 AM. Filling new residential pools is prohibited.
Vehicle washing at home is prohibited under Stage 2. Use a commercial car wash that recycles water. Charity/fundraiser car washes are also banned.
Power washing for non-essential aesthetic purposes is prohibited. Surface preparation for paint or repair may still qualify.
Install a rain barrel. Captured rainwater is unrestricted at all LIP stages.
Mow at 90–100 mm through summer to shade the soil and reduce evapotranspiration during the 5–10% regional reduction target.
Skip nitrogen fertiliser through September. It forces growth the lawn cannot support during restrictions.
Monitor https://www.cityofrockhill.com/utilities and duke-energy.com/Community/Lakes/Drought-Management-Advisory weekly. Stage updates are posted on the 1st and 16th of each month; Stage 3 is the next escalation if reservoirs continue to fall.
Rock Hill Water Restriction FAQs
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