Skip to main content
Thursday, November 12, 2026
Charlotte, NC|Local News
policy

Low Inflow Protocol

Five-stage regional drought-response policy operated jointly by Duke Energy and the Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group. Stages: 0 (watch) → 1 (voluntary conservation) → 2 (mandatory restrictions) → 3 → 4 (emergency). Stage determined by three indicators: reservoir storage, inflow rate, U.S. Drought Monitor classification. Duke evaluates monthly.

Coverage (4 articles)

Charlotte Week in Review: Water, Data Centers, Budget, CMS

Jack Beckett·

Six takeaways from a heavy week at city hall: Stage 2 water restrictions, a unanimous data-center moratorium, a $4.5 billion budget hearing, the NC state-budget framework, the CMS budget reversal, and the MPTA's July 1 deadline.

Charlotte Council Ties 5-5 on Data Center Moratorium Hearing

Jack Beckett·

Charlotte City Council deadlocked 5-5 Monday night on whether to schedule a public hearing on a temporary data center moratorium. Mayor Vi Lyles broke the tie, voting no. Three things south Charlotte should know about by-right zoning, the basin-wide drought, and District 3's position.

Charlotte's Stage 1 Drought: What It Means in Ballantyne

Nell Thomas·

Charlotte Water moved to its first voluntary water restrictions since 2023 on Monday, April 20. Here's what the schedule looks like in Ballantyne, and what the basin-wide trigger means for HOA common areas, the burn ban that came with it, and the watershed picture.

Other coverage in the Mercury Local network

Charlotte Water Limits, Data Center Moratorium, Budget, CMS

Strolling Firethorne·

Six takeaways from a heavy week at city hall: Stage 2 water restrictions, a unanimous data-center moratorium, a $4.5 billion budget hearing, the NC state-budget framework, the CMS budget reversal, and the MPTA's July 1 deadline.

Charlotte Week in Review: Water, Data Centers, Budget, CMS

Fourth Ward Charlotte·

Six takeaways from a heavy week at city hall: Stage 2 water restrictions, a unanimous data-center moratorium, a $4.5 billion budget hearing, the NC state-budget framework, the CMS budget reversal, and the MPTA's July 1 deadline.

Stage 2 Water Restrictions Start Friday: A Fourth Ward Guide

Fourth Ward Charlotte·

Charlotte Water's mandatory Stage 2 restrictions take effect Friday, May 15. For Fourth Ward, the biggest direct impacts hit power washing, decorative water features, and the neighborhood's irrigation schedule.

Charlotte Water Moves to Mandatory Restrictions at Stage 2

The Charlotte Mercury·

Charlotte Water escalates to Stage 2 of the Low Inflow Protocol on Friday, May 15, the first mandatory water restrictions since 2009. The region has reached exceptional drought for the first time since 2008.

Charlotte's 5-5 Data Center Tie: Why Firethorne Should Care

Strolling Firethorne·

Charlotte's data center moratorium hearing failed 5-5 with Mayor Lyles breaking the tie no. Firethorne is in Union County, but data centers are basin-scale and grid-scale. Three things to know about water, power, and zoning.

Lyles Breaks 5-5 Tie Against Data Center Pause Hearing

The Charlotte Mercury·

The Charlotte City Council deadlocked 5-5 Monday night on whether to even schedule a public hearing on a temporary moratorium for new data center approvals. Mayor Vi Lyles broke the tie, voting no. Meanwhile a data center campus approved for up to 2.5 million square feet is going up at 10800 University City Boulevard.

Related