Rock Hill and surrounding York County communities are under Stage 2 drought water restrictions after the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group upgraded the region’s drought classification on May 1, 2026, according to reporting published by a local news outlet.
Rock Hill Deputy City Manager Jimmy Bagley, who also chairs the Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group, said the upgrade reflects sustained dry conditions across the region. Stage 2 restrictions limit landscape irrigation to two days per week and restrict hours to 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Odd/Even Irrigation Schedule
Under the Stage 2 rules, addresses with odd street numbers may irrigate on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Addresses with even street numbers may irrigate on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Irrigation outside those windows is prohibited, and enforcement is expected to include warnings followed by fines for repeat violations.
The restrictions apply to outdoor watering of lawns, gardens, and landscaping. Car washing, pressure washing, and other outdoor water uses are also subject to conservation guidelines during drought conditions.
About the Catawba-Wateree Watershed
The Catawba-Wateree River system supplies drinking water to more than one million people across the Carolinas, including Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Lancaster, Belmont, and Charlotte. The Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group is a coalition of water utilities, power companies, and government entities that manages the system under a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license.
Drought conditions in the watershed are tracked through a combination of stream flows, reservoir levels, and precipitation data. The advisory group can escalate to Stage 3 restrictions if conditions worsen, which would further limit outdoor water use.
What Rock Hill Residents Should Do
City of Rock Hill water customers should check their address parity — odd or even street number — to confirm which days they are permitted to irrigate. The city asks residents to voluntarily reduce indoor water use as well, including running full loads in dishwashers and washing machines, fixing leaks promptly, and taking shorter showers.
Updates on the drought status are available through the city of Rock Hill at cityofrockhill.com and through the Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group. Residents with questions about their restrictions can contact Rock Hill Utilities.
