CLEMSON, SC - On Monday, July 7, Clemson City Council passed a resolution to require customers of the City of Clemson Water Utility to restrict water consumption. This resolution was passed after the South Carolina State Drought Response Committee voted to upgrade Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg and Cherokee counties to "Extreme Drought" — the highest of the five drought categories.

The resolution sets a goal of 20% water reduction. To accomplish this goal, the City of Clemson will take the following actions for customers of the City of Clemson Water Utility:

• Implement odd-even lawn irrigation corresponding to the address number of your house and only between the hours of 7:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.
• Implement restrictions and prohibitions on the use of water supplied by the City of Clemson for activities including:
  • The washing down of sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts and other hard surfaced areas;
  • The washing down of buildings for purposes other than immediate fire protection;
  • The flushing of gutters;
  • The washing of cars, motorbikes, boats, etc. at private residences and/or driveways; (The current restrictions do allow washing of vehicles at commercial car wash facilities)
  • Obtaining water from fire hydrants for construction purposes, fire drills, or any purpose other than firefighting or flushing necessary to maintain water quality;
• Limit normal water use by commercial and individual customers including, but not limited to, the following:
  • Stop maintaining water levels in scenic and recreational ponds, except for the minimum amount required to support fish and wildlife;
  • Cease water service to customers who have been given a 10-day notice to repair one or more leaks and have failed to do so;

Any violation of the above would be considered a municipal code violation and subject to a fine of up to $250 (plus Court assessments) when mandatory restrictions are in place.

• The City of Clemson Utilities Department is committed to water conservation efforts and will take the following actions:
  • Intensify maintenance efforts to identify and correct water leaks in the distribution system.
  • Cease installation of new irrigation taps on the water system.
  • Flush the Water Distribution system only when water quality standards require flushing discharges to meet minimum chlorine residual limits or other State water quality standards.

These Drought Response activities will remain in place until the current drought conditions have been changed by the South Carolina State Drought Response Committee. If the existing drought conditions intensify during the next several weeks, customers need to be prepared for more extensive water conservation requirements that may be required to preserve water supply.

The City of Clemson appreciates your efforts to use water wisely and practice good water conservation methods. For additional information, please call the City Water Utility at 653-2046.