Duke Energy Curtails Lake Lawn Irrigation on Lake Keowee and Lake Jocassee

SENECA, S.C. - Duke Energy is asking for all lawn watering to be stopped along the Keowee-Toxaway basin.

“We have reduced our hydroelectric generation to help conserve water,” said Joe Hall, lake services and permitting manager. “But more needs to be done.”

With no drought relief in sight, Duke Energy is announcing that the use of lake irrigation pumps for lawn watering from Lake Keowee and Lake Jocassee should stop completely. The lake pump use ban is effective Nov. 9 and will be in place until rain returns to the area and restores stream flows, lake levels and groundwater levels to acceptable conditions.

If someone is observed using a lake pump to water lawns after Nov. 9, a warning will be issued the first time. For a second violation, Duke Energy will take action to remove the pumping facilities from the lake boundary.

Continued failure to comply with these restrictions can result in the loss of dock access and consideration of other lake use authorizations for up to five years.

Watering lawns is one of the largest non-essential uses of water within the basin. Typically, fall is the time of year when many existing lawns are re-seeded and new lawns are started, requiring additional water.

“We cannot afford to wait on Mother Nature to end this drought and we believe this action is warranted given current and forecasted conditions this fall. We hope our leadership in this effort will prompt public water system managers in the basin to consider similar restrictions,” said Hall.

Anyone observing misuse of lake pumps can report it to Duke Energy’s lake services line at 1-800-443-5193 or the World of Energy at 1-800-777-1004, option 1.

“Duke Energy appreciates the public’s support of these measures as we work together to manage during this time of severe drought,” Hall said. “We hope everyone will look at restricting their water use. We all are stewards of this region’s limited water supply. By working together, these efforts buy time until more rainfall can arrive.”