UPDATE: Brunswick County Under STAGE 3 Water Shortage Warning
Published on July 17, 2026
UPDATE NOTICE
JULY 17, 2026 • Brunswick County provided an updated Limited Irrigation Schedule. Under the Stage 3 Limited Irrigation Schedule, water customers may only water lawns and landscaping with automatic irrigation systems (spray irrigation, drip irrigation, etc.) less than one inch of water per week, between the hours of 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM on their designated day:
- Properties with odd-numbered addresses (ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9) and non-addressed facilities may irrigate during the consecutive 8-hour period from 8:00 PM on Tuesday through 4:00 AM Wednesday
- Properties with even-numbered addresses (ending in 2, 4, 6, 8, 0) may irrigate during the consecutive 8-hour period from 8:00 PM on Friday through 4:00 AM Saturday
Additionally, this update contains reminders on exemptions and rules surrounding watering personal food gardens Maintaining existing landscape plantings, and commercial business interests.
To view the FULL update directly from Brunswick County, just visit their website at BrunswickCountyNC.gov or click the link below.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
PREVIOUS UPDATE
JULY 10, 2026 • Brunswick County moved to a Stage 3 Water Shortage Warning / MANDATORY Restrictions until further notice, due to worsening drought conditions.
TO VIEW THE FULL NOTICE as provided by Brunswick County Public Utilities, and learn exactly what restrictions are now in place. visit the Brunswick County Website at BrunswickCountyNC.gov or click the link below.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
PREVIOUS UPDATE
JUNE 26, 2026 • Brunswick County has moved to a to Stage 2 MANDATORY Water Conservation Alert as drought conditions worsen. At Stage 2, water customers who do not use private groundwater wells or reclaimed water, are required to only use their irrigation systems between the hours of 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM. on their respective days:
- All address numbers: No irrigation on Mondays
- Odd address numbers and non-addressed facilities: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday (only between 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.)
- Even address numbers: Wednesday, Friday, Sunday (only between 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.)
When Brunswick County issued a Stage 1 Voluntary Water Conservation Alert on June 9, 2026, parts of Brunswick County were only under Severe Drought (D2) conditions. Now, a majority of the County is under Extreme Drought (D3) conditions. Drought conditions are exacerbating demands on water, particularly related to irrigation use. Irrigation demands represent the bulk of non-essential water use, so a primary way that customers can reduce water usage is to limit irrigation.
PREVIOUS UPDATE
JUNE 25, 2026 • Brunswick County increases recommended actions for Stage 1 Water Conservation Alert as drought conditions worsen. Residents who have questions should contact their water service provider directly or Brunswick County Public Utilities at 910.253.2657 or utilityadmin@brunswickcountync.gov.
ORIGINAL NOTICE
JUNE 8, 2026 • To ensure adequate water is available for essential needs, Brunswick County has declared a Stage 1 Water Conservation Alert effective immediately.
This water conservation alert affects all customers of the following public water systems:
- Brunswick County Public Utilities Customers (see paragraph below for more details)
- Bald Head Island Utilities Customers
- Holden Beach Utilities Customers
- Oak Island Utilities Customers
- Ocean Isle Beach Utilities Customers
Brunswick County Public Utilities provides water service in unincorporated portions of Brunswick County as well as the following communities: Boiling Spring Lakes, Bolivia, Calabash, Carolina Shores, Caswell Beach, Navassa, Northwest, Sandy Creek, Shallotte, Southport, St. James, Sunset Beach, and Varnamtown.
Brunswick County asks these customers to diligently use water wisely. Demand for water has exceeded 80% of the available production and distribution capacity. As Independence Day approaches, water demands are expected to increase.
Utilities customers of Bald Head Island, Holden Beach, Oak Island, and Ocean Isle Beach are under the same restrictions since these utilities receive their water from Brunswick County Public Utilities.
This Stage 1 Water Conservation Alert does not apply to customers of Brunswick Regional – H2GO. Check Brunswick Regional – H2Go’s website for information about any water conservation or best practices they may have issued for their customers: h2gonc.gov
This Stage 1 Water Conservation Alert does not affect the use of private groundwater wells or those using highly treated reclaimed wastewater. (St. James, Winding River, Sea Trail, and Sandpiper Bay golf courses use reclaimed water. Other golf courses use wells and ponds for irrigation.)