Raleigh’s municipal drinking water reserves climbed to 79% capacity following a rainy summer, alleviating immediate drought concerns as city leaders draft long-term growth strategies for the next five decades, according to Raleigh Water officials. City reserves previously hovered near 60% in June before autumn storms replenished local reservoirs, keeping supplies well above the 45% threshold that triggers mandatory drought restrictions.
Raleigh Water Supply Projections and Demand Through 2070
Water demands across the Raleigh service area are projected to surge significantly over the coming decades. According to Raleigh Water data presented during a Tuesday City Council work session, the city required 170 million gallons of water per day in 2022. That daily need will jump to 218 million gallons per day by 2030, and match that same 218 million-gallon daily requirement out to 2070 to sustain regional growth.
Residential customers consume the largest share of the city’s supply at 61%, while commercial and institutional users—such as schools, hospitals, and office buildings—account for 8%. Broader regional needs are managed through the Triangle Water Supply Partnership, established in 2009 and expanded in 2017, which utilizes water from Jordan Lake to supply drinking water across surrounding counties.
Potential Water Shortage Plan Changes and Conservation
With reserves sitting comfortably in the green, the Raleigh City Council is reviewing potential updates to the city’s water shortage response plan. Council members discussed whether to limit daily household water usage, incentivize conservation efforts, or permanently restrict lawn irrigation. Councilwoman Megan Patton noted during the session that nonfunctional lawns place a heavy drain on municipal resources and suggested providing residents with digital tools to track household consumption more effectively.
Did you know? Raleigh’s mandatory drought restrictions do not trigger until local water reserves drop down to 45% capacity. As of September, reserves stand at 79%.
Alternative Water Resource Options and Reservoirs
To meet the 2070 demand projections, Raleigh Water outlined several infrastructure and resource expansion proposals during the council meeting:
- Lake Wheeler and Lake Benson: Crews plan to install crest gates on local dams to carefully manage water flow and releases. According to Raleigh Water Assistant Director Ed Buchan, this upgrade alone will yield an additional 2.5 million gallons of water daily, alongside exploring reclaimed water options from Lake Benson.
- Neuse River Intake: The city proposed building a new withdrawal intake on the Neuse River capable of supplying 15 to 45 million gallons per day. Buchan highlighted that roughly 90% of the withdrawn water would return to the river basin through municipal wastewater systems.
- Little River Reservoir: This project could yield 12 to 18 million gallons daily but faces substantial environmental hurdles. The reservoir is home to protected and endangered species, including the dwarf wedgemussel, tar spinymussel, and Neuse River waterdog, requiring comprehensive environmental reviews.
- Kerr Lake: While capable of supplying 38 to 45 million gallons per day, Buchan described the concept as a complicated project involving high costs, a large carbon footprint, required cooperation from the state of Virginia, and mandatory wastewater return to the Kerr Lake basin.
Raleigh water officials will meet with the North Carolina Division of Water Resources in October to submit their water withdrawal concepts. Approved methods will advance to formal applications and environmental permitting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Raleigh’s current water reserve level?
According to Raleigh Water, the city’s reserves sit at approximately 79% capacity as of September, up from 60% in June.
When do mandatory drought restrictions begin in Raleigh?
Drought measures trigger automatically when public water reserves fall to 45% capacity.
How much water will Raleigh need by 2030?
City projections indicate Raleigh will require 218 million gallons of water per day by 2030, up from 170 million gallons per day in 2022.
What are the primary sources for the Triangle’s regional water supply?
The Triangle Water Supply Partnership utilizes water from Jordan Lake to serve Raleigh and surrounding counties.
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