HICKORY, NC (November 14, 2016)…Communities throughout the Catawba River Basin are asking customers to conserve water due to decreasing stream flows, groundwater levels and lake storage levels throughout the basin.
The City of Hickory, in cooperation with other major water suppliers along the Catawba River and Duke Energy, participates in a joint management effort to properly manage the water resources available within the Catawba River Basin. This group has worked cooperatively over the past fourteen years to develop the Low Inflow Protocol (LIP) which the water suppliers and Duke Energy use to manage water resources throughout the Basin.
Interim City Manager Andrea Surratt of the City of Hickory is declaring a Stage 1 LIP condition in conformance with the City of Hickory Water Shortage Response Plan due to decreasing stream flows, lower ground water table elevation and decreased Lake Storage levels. These conditions are due to the lack of rain the Basin experienced during the last half of June through October and hotter temperatures during those same months leading to seasonal elevated evaporation from the Lakes. Stream flow, ground water table and Lake Storage level data is monitored closely and the Catawba River Drought Management Advisory Group evaluates this data monthly during times of drought. On November 1, 2016 this data reflected conditions meeting the requirements of a Stage 1 LIP declaration.
Stage 1 LIP is the first stage of voluntary water use conservation. The goal of this stage is to reduce water use by three to five percent. Measures to achieve this goal could include:
• Water outdoors with the intention of applying no more than one-inch per week to grasses and shrubs.
• Turn water off while brushing teeth or washing face.
• Repair leaking faucets and/or toilets.
Customers are asked to meet and continue the three to five percent water use reduction goal until further notice.
Partner governmental and non-profit systems of the City of Hickory affected by this Stage 1 LIP declaration include the Cities of Conover and Claremont, Towns of Brookford, Catawba, Long View and Maiden, portions of Alexander and Catawba Counties, Icard Township Water Corporation and all customers receiving a bill directly from Hickory.
If customers would like additional measures or have any questions, please do not hesitate contacting your local water provider. Customers may also get water use conservation tips from the Water Management Groups website at www.catawbawatreewmg.org.