With Henderson County still under drought conditions, the Stage 2A Water Shortage Alert remains in effect for the city of Hendersonville, and according to the National Weather Service, it looks like there won’t be any relief coming anytime soon.

“Worsening conditions are creeping in,” Chris Horne, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Greenville, South Carolina, told the Times-News on Oct. 26. “For the rest of the week, into the weekend and the start of next week, there will be dry high pressure and it’s going to be warm, too. This will continue to maintain if not increase our precipitation deficit.”

Horne said next week a cold front will be moving into the area, but it will likely not bring much rain.

“There is a shower chance associated with the frontal passage. At this point, it’s debatable how much rainfall is going to occur. It’s unlikely to make up much of any ground at all. The pattern remains pretty quiet next week heading into the first weekend of November,” he said.

With not much if any rainfall coming through the first week of November, the Times-News talked with Hendersonville Utilities Director Adam Stuerer, who provided more details about the drought conditions.

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‘Continue to conserve water’

What are the current water levels and how do they compare to when they are at full capacity?

Steurer: The city of Hendersonville’s current water supply is the Mills River watershed. As of Oct. 19, the region has been experiencing a moderate drought which has caused the water levels of the Mills River to be lower than normal. Currently, the level of the Mills River watershed is about one-third of the average level experienced during the month of October.

In your time working as the utilities director, have you ever seen the levels this low before? If so, what has been the worst you’ve ever seen it?

Steurer: During the fall of 2008, Western North Carolina experienced a drought that required the city of Hendersonville to declare the same Stage 2A Water Shortage Alert.

More:Hendersonville city manager issues Stage 2A Water Shortage Alert, beginning Oct. 6

What would be the next step if the drought persists?

Steurer: In accordance with the city’s Water Shortage Response Plan, the next step is a Stage 2B Water Shortage Alert, which involves mandatory water use reduction measures.

What amount of rainfall do you believe could help to ease the restrictions?

Steurer: While the Mills River watershed has received light rainfall within the past few weeks, a more substantial rain event or series of rain events is needed to improve water levels and ease restrictions.

How has the public responded so far to these restrictions and are their actions helping to conserve water?

Steurer: The utility has noticed a slight reduction in water usage from its customers since declaring a water shortage response and encourages its customers to continue to conserve water.

If the drought continues for a long period of time, does the city have any backup plan or any emergency plan in place?

Steurer: The utility has measures in place to ensure water is available without interruption for public health and safety if drought conditions worsen. It’s important to note that the utility is currently constructing an additional water intake on the French Broad River. The $23.5 million dollar project will add a fourth water source and allow the water system to become more resilient to drought and lay the foundation for the future. The project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2024.

Recommendations for the 2A Alert

For the current Stage 2A Water Shortage Alert, Hendersonville residents are requested to conserve water using the following recommendations: 

• No car washing except by commercial facilities equipped to recycle water.
• Do not wash down outside areas such as sidewalks, patios, parking lots, service bays, aprons,etc.
• Limit lawn and garden watering to only that which is necessary for plants to survive, reusinghousehold water or reclaimed water when possible.
• Do not leave faucets running while shaving, brushing teeth, or rinsing dishes.
• Limit flushing of toilets by multiple usage.
• Limit use of clothes washers and dishwashers, and when used, operate fully loaded.
• Take showers rather than bathing and limit the duration of showers.
• The use of disposable and biodegradable dishes is encouraged.
• The use of flow-restrictive and water-saving devices is encouraged.
• Limit hours of operation of water-cooled air conditioners.
• All residents, businesses and institutions are requested to temporarily delay new landscapework until the water shortage has ended.

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at [email protected]. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.