Counties surrounding Lake Wylie upgraded to drought stage

The South Carolina Drought Response Committee has upgraded the drought status to Stage 1 (or “incipient drought”) for York and 27 other counties, citing low levels of rainfall across the state.

The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council also released an upgrade on June 25. Mecklenburg and Gaston counties are now categorized in moderate drought.

Residents are asked to:

▪ Reduce the use of sprinklers in favor of “low-volume, drip irrigation and hand-held watering.”

▪ Water lawns no more than two days a week.

▪ Go to car washes that use recycled water instead of washing cars at home.

▪ Reduce washing of “hard surface areas” such as driveways or sidewalks and washing buildings for “purposes other than immediate fire protection.”

▪ Reduce flushing of gutters.

▪ Minimize nonessential uses of water.

City and state officials will continue to monitor water levels and update drought conditions as needed. Further actions will be announced if necessary.

This story was originally published June 25, 2015 at 4:28 PM with the headline "Counties surrounding Lake Wylie upgraded to drought stage."