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Falls Lake was about 6.4 feet below normal on November 13, 2026. Yet Raleigh's updated November 13 advisory said no drought restrictions were in effect, while City of Durham water customers remained prohibited from using lawn sprinklers under Stage 2.
Raleigh's November 10 update reported 61% of its allocated Falls Lake drinking-water storage remaining. Durham's November 12 figures showed 29% reservoir storage and an estimated 78 days of easily accessible water.
The figures describe different water systems, and the rules for a particular home depend on its water provider.
1. How Low Is the Falls Lake Water Level on November 13?
At 2 p.m. Eastern on November 13, 2026, the U.S. Geological Survey's Falls Lake monitoring station recorded a provisional water-surface elevation of 245.08 feet NGVD 1929.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lists the lake's normal pool elevation at 251.5 feet on the same vertical reference.
That puts the lake approximately 6.4 feet below normal.
The USGS monitoring page provides newer readings for anyone checking the Falls Lake water level today.
A falling lake level can expose shoreline and make the drought visible. But a measurement in feet isn't a percentage of available drinking water.
Falls Lake stores water for multiple purposes, including public water supply and downstream water-management needs.
Raleigh's November 10 drought update reported 61% remaining in its designated water supply pool.
That figure refers to Raleigh's allocated drinking-water storage, not the entire lake.
Raleigh also considers seasonal conditions and its Water Shortage Response Plan when determining whether restrictions are needed.
2. Why Is Durham in Stage 2 While Raleigh Has No Drought-Stage Restrictions?
Raleigh Water draws primarily from Falls Lake. Durham operates a separate reservoir system supplied by Lake Michie and Little River Reservoir.
The two utilities therefore don't begin with the same available storage or respond to drought under identical conditions.
Raleigh lifted its Stage 1 restrictions on August 3, 2026. In an advisory published November 9 and updated November 13, the city explicitly says no drought restrictions are in effect while asking customers to conserve water.
Durham's restrictions are more extensive.
The city has maintained Stage 2 Water Shortage Response restrictions since June 15, 2026.
Durham's November 12 supply snapshot reported 29% reservoir storage. Its water-supply data estimated 78 days of easily accessible reservoir water.
The estimate uses a 30-day running average of water demand from the reservoirs.
It isn't a fixed deadline when Durham will run out of drinking water. Rainfall, reservoir inflows and changes in demand can alter the calculation. The city also identifies less-accessible reservoir water and emergency storage separately.
Durham had not moved to Stage 3 under the reported conditions.
The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council's November 12 information describes drought conditions across the state. Those classifications don't automatically activate the same watering restrictions for every utility serving the affected counties.
3. Can You Water Your Lawn Under Raleigh and Durham's Current Rules?
Consider two homeowners with newly planted shrubs.
One receives water from Raleigh Water. The other receives water from the City of Durham.
Their options are different.
Raleigh Water customers: The city's advisory, updated November 13, explicitly says no drought restrictions are in effect but encourages residents to avoid unnecessary watering and other water waste. Existing year-round water-use requirements still apply.
A homeowner with automatic irrigation can review the watering schedule, check for leaks and avoid running sprinklers when the landscape doesn't need additional water.
City of Durham water customers: Durham's Stage 2 restrictions prohibit spray irrigation using city water, including hose-end sprinklers.
There are no permitted spray-watering days under Stage 2.
Hand watering, drip irrigation and watering bags remain allowed, subject to the utility's posted requirements.
That gives someone maintaining shrubs or recently planted landscaping a different option from running a conventional lawn sprinkler.
Durham also restricts other outdoor uses of city water, including vehicle washing, cleaning hard surfaces and refilling pools. The posted rules include specific exceptions and conditions, so homeowners should check them before doing exterior cleaning or pool maintenance.
The important distinction isn't whether a property has an irrigation system. It's whether that system can operate under the rules governing its water source.
For someone buying a house with extensive landscaping, that may affect how the yard can be maintained during prolonged dry weather.
4. Which Water Restrictions Apply to Your Home or a Property You're Buying?
A Raleigh or Durham mailing address doesn't necessarily identify the water utility serving a house.
Raleigh Water also serves customers in Garner, Wake Forest, Rolesville, Knightdale, Wendell and Zebulon.
A home in one of those communities may therefore follow Raleigh Water's drought-stage rules rather than a separate set issued by the town.
Likewise, a Durham mailing address alone doesn't establish that the property receives City of Durham water.
The best starting point is the property's water bill or a service confirmation from the utility.
If you're buying a house, ask the seller who supplies the drinking water, whether the irrigation system works and whether it uses the same source.
Some properties have separate irrigation meters or another outdoor water supply. The source should be verified rather than inferred from the presence of sprinkler equipment.
A private well raises different questions.
Before purchasing a well-served property, ask about available well records, water-supply problems and performance during extended dry periods. Confirm any requirements that apply to the well rather than assuming municipal restrictions govern it.
HomesRaleigh's guide to buying a home with a private well in Wake County explains additional property-specific checks.
For buyers comparing Raleigh homes for sale and Durham homes for sale, the water provider belongs alongside questions about utilities, property condition and outdoor maintenance. Those city searches don't identify a home's water service.
Once you've confirmed the provider, use the official Raleigh Water drought-status page or Durham's current conservation rules to check what is allowed.
Conceptual illustration of a Piedmont reservoir shoreline.
