Lancaster County Water and Sewer District

05/22/2026

Drought - Stage 2 "Quick Read"
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MANDATORY WATER RESTRICTIONS IN EFFECT
Lancaster County Water & Sewer District
Stage 2 Drought • Effective May 15, 2026
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OUR GOAL
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Reduce community-wide water use by 5–10%. If we don't hit that,
stricter rules may follow.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
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1) LAWN & GARDEN WATERING — by address number, 2 AM to 10 AM only
• Even addresses: Tuesday & Saturday
• Odd / no number: Wednesday & Sunday
(Avoid watering at all if you can.)

2) STOP THESE ACTIVITIES
• Washing personal vehicles
• Power washing (homeowners)
• Filling swimming pools (topping off is allowed)
• Running decorative fountains that don't support aquatic life

3) EXCEPTIONS
Licensed businesses and community-serving functions
(e.g., car washes & commercial power washing) may continue.

PENALTIES FOR HIGH WATER USE
----------------------------
Stage 2 Surcharge rates apply automatically starting with the August 2026 bills, which are for usage dates beginning on
June 12th:

Residential and ¾” meter Volumetric Rate (per 1,000 gals)
Tier 1 Up to 10,000 gal Normal rate $4.83
Tier 2 10,000–20,000 gal 2.5× normal rate $12.08
Tier 3 Over 20,000 gal 3× normal rate $14.49
For Non-Residential and larger meter Volumetric Rates, see full rate chart: www.lcwasd.org/alert/drought-alert-stage-2

WHY THIS IS HAPPENING
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Rainfall has been below average 17 of 19 months since 2024, and every month since September 2025.
The Catawba-Wateree River Basin has officially entered Stage 2
of its Low Inflow Protocol — the first time since 2009.

As a member utility, LCWSD is required to enforce these
restrictions to protect the region's shared water supply.

QUESTIONS?
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• Web: www.lcwasd.org

05/18/2026

Learn more about Stage 2 Drought conditions. Click on link below

Lancaster County Water & Sewer District Extended Dry Weather MovesCatawba-Wateree Lake System into Low Inflow Protocol Stage 2 Drought Designation triggers mandatory conservation for major water users

04/16/2026

Please refer to lcwasd.org for additional information related to
Stage 1 Drought Advisory

04/16/2026

LCWSD will no longer report outages on Facebook. Customers can go to our website at LCWASD.org and/or sign up for our customer portal athttps://www.lcwasd.org/sites/default/files/uploads/Forms-and-notifications/h2ointroductionletter.pdf to have notifications sent directly to your phone or email.
Customer service is our priority.

02/02/2026

Due to storm-related impacts - and our wanting to help people stay off the roads until conditions improve - LCWSD's office will be closed tomorrow.

On-call staff will be available to assist with emergencies by calling (803) 285-6919.

Stay safe, everybody!

SOUTH CAROLINA (WJBF) – Snow continues to create hazardous driving conditions across portions of South Carolina, and members of the South Carolina Emergency Response Team are urging residents to stay off the roads if they do not have to travel. While crews have been working around the clock to tre...

01/31/2026

LCWSD Prepared for Winter Storm Gianna

Field crews will be working around the clock to respond to system breaks and leaks.

Continued cold from Winter Storm Gianna is likely to increase the number of breaks and leaks.

Customers are asked to continue to protect their pipes and be prepared for potential service disruptions.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lancaster, SC, January 31, 2026: As our service area is hit with another blast of snow and extreme cold from Winter Storm Gianna, LCWSD is prepared to respond to any main breaks or service outages that could occur. LCWSD is also taking the following steps to minimize potential impacts on customers, including:

• Keeping the water distribution system as full as possible.
• Testing and fueling backup generators at critical facilities.
• Maintaining proper levels of emergency supplies.

LCWSD would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone how to continue to prevent their pipes from freezing. Temperatures are predicted to be well below freezing throughout the weekend and into the first part of next week.

• Tightly close doors and windows to the outside.
• Insulate pipes in unheated or drafty areas. Hardware and plumbing supply stores carry insulation to keep pipes from freezing.
• Shut off and drain the pipes leading to your outside faucets so no water is left to freeze, expand, and cause a leak in these lines.
• Close the inside valves and drain the pipes leading to your outside hose bib (faucet).
• Know where your main shut-off valve is. Minimize the risk of water damage by ensuring everyone in the household knows how to shut off the water in an emergency.
• Open the cabinets beneath any place with a water supply, such as the kitchen and bathroom sinks. This will allow warm air to circulate. (Remove any toxic substances first if there are small children or pets in the home.)
• To prevent your pipes from freezing, let a faucet drip slowly with cold water. The faucet you choose should be the one farthest from your water shut-off valve, which is usually near your water heater. It does NOT need to be a running trickle.

If someone in your home or business turns on a faucet and only has a trickle of water coming out or no water at all, suspect a frozen pipe or meter and take these steps:

• Identify whether the problem is throughout the house or in one area. If it’s only in one area of your household, you may be able to thaw the pipe by opening the cabinets to allow warmer air to circulate around the pipes.
• NEVER thaw a pipe with an open flame. You can use a hair dryer on low or a portable heater. Avoid using electrical appliances if there is standing water.
• Use warm water to soak towels, then wrap the towels around the frozen pipes.
• If the problem persists, contact a licensed plumber for additional guidance.

To report a suspected water main break or leak in your neighborhood, please contact LCWSD’s Emergency Line at 803-285-6919.

01/25/2026

Repeating this, in case you missed it last week.

Unless you have to be somewhere for work or family, please stay home.

Usually, before a major winter storm, we focus our warnings on how to protect your pipes from freezing.

Today, we're going a bit further because ice storms of the strength forecast for us can cause significant power outages for a prolonged period of time.

Here is a checklist of precautions to take before the ice arrives.

What to do at home:
Prevent frozen pipes. Insulate exposed pipes with foam and disconnect outside hoses. Open cabinets so heated air can reach the pipes. During the storm, leave the highest and farthest faucets on a slow drip to keep the water from freezing.

Trim tree branches. Walk around your home looking for dead or overhanging branches that could break and damage your property or cause personal harm.

Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Test your detectors to make sure they are working. If there is any question, change the batteries.

Make sure alternative heating sources are working properly.

Check gutters. Make sure they are not clogged to prevent ice dams that can cause roof leaks.
Stock essential supplies: Before the storm hits, make sure you have enough supplies for 3 to 7 days. One gallon of water per person per day. Non-perishable foods, including canned goods, protein bars, and peanut butter.

Lighting: Have flashlights and lanterns ready with extra batteries. NO CANDLES.

Charge Everything: Fully charge your phones, laptops, and external power banks.

Medicine: Have a full week's supply of all prescription medications.

Warmth: Make sure heavy blankets, sleeping bags, and warm layers are ready.

Sidewalk care: Apply rock salt to any place where people walk before the storm to prevent ice from forming.

What to do away from home:
Fuel up: Gas up all vehicles and generators, and keep an extra supply on hand. If you use a generator, never run it indoors. If you have a fireplace or wood stove, stock up on dry firewood. Never leave a fire unattended.

If possible, during the storm, stay off the roads entirely.

If you must have your car ready:
Winterize: Check your antifreeze levels and ensure your battery is in good health (cold weather drains them faster). Keep a quality scraper in the car. Have a bag of kitty litter in the trunk in case you get stuck.

Last, but not least, pet care: Keep your pets indoors and make sure they sleep in warm parts of the home. Make sure to wipe their feet if they walk on treated surfaces.

01/22/2026

Usually, before a major winter storm, we focus our warnings on how to protect your pipes from freezing.

Today, we're going a bit further because ice storms of the strength forecast for us can cause significant power outages for a prolonged period of time.

Here is a checklist of precautions to take before the ice arrives.

What to do at home:
Prevent frozen pipes. Insulate exposed pipes with foam and disconnect outside hoses. Open cabinets so heated air can reach the pipes. During the storm, leave the highest and farthest faucets on a slow drip to keep the water from freezing.

Trim tree branches. Walk around your home looking for dead or overhanging branches that could break and damage your property or cause personal harm.

Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Test your detectors to make sure they are working. If there is any question, change the batteries.

Make sure alternative heating sources are working properly.

Check gutters. Make sure they are not clogged to prevent ice dams that can cause roof leaks.
Stock essential supplies: Before the storm hits, make sure you have enough supplies for 3 to 7 days. One gallon of water per person per day. Non-perishable foods, including canned goods, protein bars, and peanut butter.

Lighting: Have flashlights and lanterns ready with extra batteries. NO CANDLES.

Charge Everything: Fully charge your phones, laptops, and external power banks.

Medicine: Have a full week's supply of all prescription medications.

Warmth: Make sure heavy blankets, sleeping bags, and warm layers are ready.

Sidewalk care: Apply rock salt to any place where people walk before the storm to prevent ice from forming.

What to do away from home:
Fuel up: Gas up all vehicles and generators, and keep an extra supply on hand. If you use a generator, never run it indoors. If you have a fireplace or wood stove, stock up on dry firewood. Never leave a fire unattended.

If possible, during the storm, stay off the roads entirely.

If you must have your car ready:
Winterize: Check your antifreeze levels and ensure your battery is in good health (cold weather drains them faster). Keep a quality scraper in the car. Have a bag of kitty litter in the trunk in case you get stuck.

Last, but not least, pet care: Keep your pets indoors and make sure they sleep in warm parts of the home. Make sure to wipe their feet if they walk on treated surfaces.

12/31/2025

LCWSD would like to wish you a Happy New Year!

We will be closed tomorrow, January 1, 2026, in celebration of the holiday.

In case of emergency, please call our 24-hour customer service line at (803) 285-6919.

12/23/2025

LCWSD would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

We will be closed for the holiday from Wednesday, December 24th, through Sunday, December 28th.

If you experience an emergency, please call our 24/7 Emergency Line at (803) 285-6919.