THIS ALERT APPLIES TO VILLAGE UTILITIES CUSTOMERS ON BALD HEAD ISLAND – Village Utilities supplements its potable water supply through Brunswick County Public Utilities; Village Utilities customers are also required to comply with these mandatory water conservation measures.
The Village continues to closely monitor on-island groundwater production, potable water storage levels, and coordination with Brunswick County Public Utilities. At this time, the Village is asking all customers to fully comply with Brunswick County’s mandatory potable water conservation requirements while continuing to monitor local system conditions.
FROM BRUNSWICK COUNTY (Original Brunswick County communication HERE – the Village is mirroring most of the County’s messaging since it also applies to Bald Head Island; some information may be required by regulatory authorities.)
As of July 10, 2026, Brunswick County has moved to a Stage 3 Water Shortage Warning MANDATORY Restrictions until further notice due to worsening drought conditions. Under Stage 3, all automated outdoor irrigation is prohibited. There are certain exemptions for commercial power washing and commercial car washing. Full details about all the restrictions and fees are outlined below and at BrunswickCountyNC.gov/WaterWise.
Nearly a third of Brunswick County is now under an Exceptional Drought (D4) (BALD HEAD ISLAND IS INCLUDED IN THE D4 DESIGNATION), which is the highest tier of drought possible.Under the Stage 3 alert level, Brunswick County Public Utilities water customers are required to adjust their water usage habits by following the MANDATORY water usage adjustments.
Brunswick County is monitoring water usage for all water customers using the County’s public water system and is issuing penalties for violations. Learn more about the Stage 3 penalties and fees below.
This alert applies to all Brunswick County Public Utilities water customers, including wholesale customers, residents, businesses, new developments, etc. This includes:
- 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
Commercial Businesses
- Any commercial business that is affected by this Stage 3 Mandatory Alert may apply for a variance. The appeal may be submitted to jmccann@villagebhi.org.
- Developers and property owners whose projects require landscaping for project completion may contact the Brunswick County Planning Department to discuss entering an Improvement Guarantee. This allows qualifying projects to receive development sign-off if all other requirements have been met, with landscaping installed at a later date when conditions improve.
What is different under a Stage 3 alert level?
This is a select list of some of the main differences under a Stage 3 Alert. See the full list below or on our website at BrunswickCountyNC.gov/WaterWise.
- Automated outdoor irrigation is prohibited. There are some exceptions, such as watering for food gardens or existing landscaping using hand-held hoses or containers, maintaining newly installed landscaping, lawn, or erosion projects under a written warranty and initiated prior to June 26, and more; see below for a full list of required adjustments and exceptions.
- Non-compliance fees are higher under a Stage 3 MANDATORY Alert. See below for a full list of non-compliance penalties.
- The use of water from fire hydrants is prohibited, except for fighting fire and fire protection purposes, and for flushing of potable water lines to protect the public health.
- Filling family, public, or private swimming pools, including wading pools, hot tubs, spas, and whirlpool tubs, is prohibited, except for health and rehabilitative purposes as prescribed by a medical doctor or administered by a medical facility (documentation to be provided upon request).
- Washing or cleaning mobile equipment including automobiles, trucks, boats, and fleet vehicles is prohibited. There are some exceptions for commercial car washes, car dealerships, and any construction, emergency, transport, or public transportation vehicles that need to be washed to preserve the functioning and operation of the vehicle; see below for a full list of required adjustments and exceptions.
- The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council (NCMDAC) has classified the drought in Brunswick County as an Exceptional Drought (D4), which is the highest tier on the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, and North Carolina statutes mandate that water systems implement more stringent water conservation measures. When Brunswick County issued a Stage 2 Mandatory Water Conservation Alert on June 26, 2026, a majority of Brunswick County was under Extreme Drought (D3) conditions.
- Commercial power washing: Per the Public Utilities Director’s discretion, at this time only commercial power washing is excluded/exempt from any required adjustments that prohibit power washing of buildings and other structures or the use of water for washing impervious and paved surfaces.
Stage 3 Penalties
During a Stage 3 MANDATORY Alert, the cooperation of all water customers is essential to help ensure water is available for essential needs and to prevent the need for additional measures or restrictions. A full list of MANDATORY water usage adjustments and any exceptions can be found online at BrunswickCountyNC.gov/WaterWise. Non-compliance may result in the assessment of the following penalties.
Any fees for penalties will be applied to your next utility bill.
- First Offense Penalty: $100 non-compliance fee
- Second Offense Penalty: $400 non-compliance fee
- Third Offense Penalty: $600 non-compliance fee and water disconnection*
- All subsequent water emergency offenses during a Stage 2 or higher water conservation alert level may result in fines up to $5,000 and water disconnection*
* If a customer is allowed to reconnect after disconnection, reconnection fees would also apply.
Brunswick County is actively monitoring the drought conditions and customers’ water usage to determine whether a Stage 4 Water Shortage Warning with Mandatory Restrictions may become necessary. In Stage 4, most outdoor irrigation methods are prohibited, and penalties for non-compliance will increase.
Stage 3 MANDATORY Water Use Adjustments
Under a Stage 3 MANDATORY Alert, water customers are required to adjust their water usage habits to appreciably reduce peak demands on the County’s public water system.
A unified application of water reductions by all water system users in Brunswick County may help to avoid a more stringent level of mandatory water restrictions.
Following these required adjustments will help you to minimize non-essential use of water on your property and may also help you save money on your next utility bill.
Requirements for Outdoor Irrigation and Landscaping
- Automated outdoor irrigation is prohibited, except for:
- Watering personal food gardens less than ¼ acre between the hours of 8:00 PM and 4:00 AM, using a hand-held container, hand-held hose, or drip irrigation with an automatic shutoff device;
- Maintaining existing landscape plantings at the minimum rate necessary, between the hours of 8:00 PM and 4:00 AM, using a hand-held container or hand-held hose;
- Maintaining newly installed landscapes, lawns, and erosion control projects that are under a written warranty and that were initiated prior to the issuance of the Extreme Drought Advisory on June 26, 2026, not to exceed the minimum rate necessary on the day of installation and for 28 days following installation, by means designed and operated to maximize water use efficiency and to prevent run-off and excessive watering. Documentation verifying the installation date (inclusive of digitally date-stamped photos, the warranty, receipts with installation address, name, and phone number, etc.) must be provided to Brunswick County and an approval email from Brunswick County must be received and kept in possession prior to irrigating;
- Using spray irrigation by wastewater effluent treatment systems according to permit conditions under the provisions of North Carolina Administrative Code 15A NCAC 02U .0100 and any successive rules and amendments;
- Watering golf course tees, fairways, and greens by means of an automated irrigation system between the hours of 8:00 PM and 4:00 AM with less than one half (1/2) inch of water per week;
THIS DOES NOT IMPACT BHI CLUB AS IT USES RECLAIMED WATER – the Bald Head Island Club’s irrigation system utilizes reclaimed water supplied through the Village’s reclaimed water system rather than potable drinking water. Therefore, the potable water irrigation restrictions contained in Brunswick County’s Stage 3 Water Conservation Alert do not apply to irrigation utilizing reclaimed water.
(Reclaimed water is highly treated wastewater that is reused for irrigation and is separate from the Village’s potable drinking water system. Its use helps conserve drinking water supplies during drought conditions.)
- Syringing golf course tees and greens exhibiting visible signs of stress between the hours of 1:00 PM and 4:00 AM, at the minimum rate necessary; and
- Maintaining plant inventories, by means designed and operated to maximize water use efficiency, at retail garden centers, garden centers within mass merchant stores, or other businesses with live plants as their stock in trade.
- The use of water for ornamental fountains, artificial waterfalls, misting machines, reflecting pools, and ornamental ponds is prohibited, except for the minimum amount of make-up water necessary to maintain aquatic life.
Requirements for Buildings, Vehicles, and Pavement
- The use of water for power washing of buildings and other structures is prohibited (Exception: Per the Public Utilities Director’s discretion, commercial power washing is excluded from this required adjustment).
- The use of water for washing impervious and paved surfaces is prohibited, except for using the minimum rate necessary for sanitation and public health purposes (Exception: Per the Public Utilities Director’s discretion, commercial power washing is excluded from this required adjustment).
- The use of water for washing or cleaning of mobile equipment including automobiles, trucks, boats, and fleet vehicles is prohibited, except for:
- Operating commercial car washes that utilize the industry’s best management practices for the efficient use of water including mobile car washes and those that recycle, reclaim, or reuse a portion of their wash water in their daily operations;
- Cleaning new and used vehicles using less than five gallons per vehicle to prepare for display in a dealer’s show room; and
- Cleaning of construction, emergency, transport, or public transportation vehicles if necessary to preserve the functioning and operation of the vehicle as required by law.
- Water shall be applied at the minimum rate necessary to maintain effective dust and erosion control during the construction of roads and highways initiated prior to the declaration of an Extreme Drought by the NCMDAC.
Requirements for Fire Hydrants
- The use of water from fire hydrants is prohibited, except for:
- Fighting fire and fire protection purposes;
- Testing purposes if approved by Brunswick County Utilities; and
- Flushing of potable water lines to protect the public health.
Requirements for Pools
- The filling of family, public, or private swimming pools, including wading pools, hot tubs, spas, and whirlpool tubs, is prohibited, except for health and rehabilitative purposes as prescribed by a medical doctor or administered by a medical facility (documentation to be provided upon request).
Other Requirements
- The use of water for flushing sewer lines is prohibited except when necessary to meet public health and safety standards.
- The serving of water in eating and drinking establishments shall be done on customer request only.
- Do not leave water running. Do not leave faucets running while shaving, brushing teeth, rinsing or preparing food.
- Limit the use of clothes washers and dishwashers and, when used, operate fully loaded. Operate dishwashers outside of peak demand hours from 8:00 PM. to 4:00 AM.
- Do not use water-cooled air conditioners between the hours of 4:00 AM and 10:00 AM.
Encouraged Water-Saving Tips
- Use a shower for bathing instead of a bathtub and limit shower to no more than five (5) minutes.
- Use disposable and biodegradable dishes where possible.
- Inspect and repair all faulty and defective parts of faucets and toilets.
- Install water saving devices in bathrooms such as early closing flappers in toilets, water-saving showerheads, and other water conservation devices.
Additional Information
This is not a water quality advisory; it is a MANDATORY water conservation alert. There is no need to boil water for potable use unless you receive a low-pressure advisory notice for your specific area due to other conditions in the water distribution system.
Water customers will be notified if any other conservation measures are needed and when conditions dictate that restrictions are no longer required.
Information and any updates can be found at brunswickcountync.gov/WaterWise.
Bald Head Island Customers who have questions should contact Village Utilities via email at jmccann@villagebhi.org.