If you want to know when you can turn on your lawn sprinkler in Greensboro, check your garbage collection schedule.
With drought conditions continuing to drain the city’s water supplies, Greensboro moved to Stage 2 mandatory irrigation restrictions on Tuesday, November 3. For most customers, that means sprinklers can run just once a week – on their scheduled city garbage collection day.
The city isn’t officially calling it “Defcon 2.” It’s Stage 2 under Greensboro’s Water Shortage Response Plan. But the message to water customers is clear: The restrictions are mandatory.
Enforcement begins Monday, November 9, giving customers a little time to adjust their watering habits.
According to the city’s new announcement, the decision follows continued declines in storage levels across Greensboro’s three water reservoirs as severe drought conditions that began in 2025 persist. Greensboro did get a little rain on Thursday, November 5, but not a lot. There’s absolutely non called for in the coming 10-day forecast.
The city says the Stage 2 irrigation restrictions will remain in effect for at least 30 days.
Customers who don’t have city garbage service, or who have multiple collection days, get Wednesday as their one permitted sprinkler day. The once-a-week limit applies to both manual and automatic sprinklers.
However, residents can still water plants, shrubs and trees any day of the week using hand-held hoses, containers or drip irrigation.
Golf courses and institutional playing fields face a different set of requirements. Those customers may irrigate daily, but only between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., and they must reduce water use by 40 percent compared with their average use during the same billing period in the most recent 12-month period.
Customers who need help figuring out that reduction can call the city’s Contact Center at 336-373-2489.
Nurseries and retailers that sell plants may water their inventory using any method at any time.
Water Resources Director Mike Borchers thanked customers for their conservation efforts and called for continued cooperation as the drought wears on.
“Working together, we can meet the challenge placed on our community as our team monitors lake levels and shares important updates with our customers,” Borchers said.
The city reported that the latest North Carolina drought map showed most counties, including Guilford County, experiencing severe drought. City officials said warmer spring and summer weather had dried out the region and lowered the stream levels that replenish area lakes.
Greensboro is continuing to purchase water through existing agreements with Burlington, Reidsville and the Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority to help maintain an adequate supply.
Residents can find conservation information at greensboro-nc.gov/ConserveWater. The city’s Water Status Update page provides information on lake levels, water demand and the thresholds that trigger restrictions.
