Which Triangle towns are impacted by drought restrictions in effect next week?

Stage 1 drought restrictions going into effect on Monday, April 20, for the City of Raleigh put limitations on when residents and businesses can water lawns, gardens, use sprinklers and more.

But Raleigh isn’t the only Triangle town facing restrictions. Several local towns supplied by Raleigh must follow the same rules about water use:

• Garner
• Knightdale
• Rolesville
• Wake Forest
• Wendell
• Zebulon

Here’s when you can water your plants or lawn during the restrictions:

• People with odd-numbered addresses may only water their lawns on Tuesdays.
• People with even-numbered addresses may only water their lawns on Wednesdays.
• Watering impervious surfaces, like streets, driveways or other paved surfaces is prohibited.
• Handheld hose watering and drip irrigation are allowed at any time.
• Sprinklers can only be used between 6-10 a.m. or 6-10 p.m.

Also, leaks in water services or plumbing must be repaired within 48 hours after being notified.

You can find more details in the city’s Water Shortage Response Plan on the city’s website, raleighnc.gov.

What are you still allowed to do during Raleigh’s water restrictions?

Filling up pools, irrigating athletic fields, pressure washing and car washing are all allowed under the stage 1 restriction.

What do you do if you see someone breaking the rules?

To report a violation, call Raleigh Water at 919-996-3245 or email customercare@raleighnc.gov.

The first violation is a letter, the second is a $100 fine and the third is a $500 fine. If the violations are not resolved, the city may stop water service.

You can find more details in the city’s Water Shortage Response Plan on the city’s website, raleighnc.gov.

Portions of this story were previously published in The News & Observer.

This story was originally published April 17, 2026 at 10:40 AM.

Anna Roman

The News & Observer

919-829-4807

Anna Roman is a service journalism reporter for the News & Observer. She has previously covered city government, crime and business for newspapers across North Carolina and received many North Carolina Press Association awards, including first place for investigative reporting.