“A Rain with a Name” Needed to Break Severe Dry Spell as Voluntary Water Schedules Begin
BC News Staff Writer
April 25, 2026
Local officials are urging residents across Brunswick, Columbus, and Horry counties to adopt water conservation measures as the region grapples with an intensifying dry spell.
While no mandatory restrictions are currently in place, the situation has reached a critical point.
Whiteville Emergency Services recently highlighted the severity of the deficit, noting that minor showers will likely not be enough to replenish local aquifers.
“Unfortunately, the only thing that is going to help the drought is a rain with a name on it,” officials stated, referring to the heavy, sustained precipitation typically delivered by tropical systems.
To manage the current demand and protect the regional water supply, residents are being asked to follow a voluntary outdoor watering schedule. Under these guidelines, households with odd-numbered addresses are encouraged to irrigate only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Even-numbered addresses should limit watering to Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, while refraining from watering on Mondays. This will allow the systems to recover. Furthermore, experts recommend avoiding high-volume water use, such as not running dishwashers or washing machines between the peak hours of 5:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
Inside the home, small changes can yield significant results. Washing only full loads of laundry can save up to 55 gallons of water per cycle. In the kitchen, keeping a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator to avoid running the faucet until it becomes cool. Simple maintenance, such as cleaning faucet aerators and repairing leaks promptly, remains a primary defense against waste.
The bathroom offers the greatest opportunity for daily savings. Residents can save between four and 8 gallons simply by turning off the tap while brushing their teeth. For outdoor tasks like cleaning vehicles, using a bucket and sponge is recommended over a running hose, which can waste 6 gallons of water every minute.
By adopting these habits now, the community can help stabilize the local water infrastructure throughout the duration of the drought and doing a little rain dance isn’t too far-fetched at this time either.
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