BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) – Brunswick County is warning residents that a complete ban on automatic lawn and landscape irrigation could be coming if extreme drought conditions do not improve.<\/p>\n
The county is currently under a Stage 2 Mandatory Water Conservation Alert, driven by Extreme Drought, designated D3 on the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, the second-highest tier. <\/p>\n
If conditions worsen, officials said a Stage 3 Water Shortage Warning would prohibit all automatic sprinkler use for residential and commercial properties.<\/p>\n
The Stage 2 designation carries legal weight. Unlike the previous Stage 1 voluntary alert, residents who do not follow the mandatory irrigation schedule can face significant fees and water service termination. <\/p>\n
Brunswick County Public Utilities said it is actively monitoring irrigation use.<\/p>\n
Properties found out of compliance will be contacted through the ReadyBrunswick notification system or via the utility account on file. Automated calls will come from 910-253-1799, which cannot receive incoming calls, officials said.<\/p>\n
Under the mandatory schedule, irrigation is limited to less than one inch of water per week and may only run between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. on designated nights, determined by address number:<\/p>\n
Odd-numbered addresses (ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9) and non-addressed facilities: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and SaturdaysEven-numbered addresses (ending in 2, 4, 6, 8, or 0): Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays \u2014 plus midnight to 4 a.m. on MondaysNo irrigation is permitted for odd addresses on Mondays<\/p>\n
The restrictions apply to residential lawns, landscaping, athletic fields, and golf courses not using private groundwater wells or reclaimed water.<\/p>\n