Saluda and Tryon now in Stage I Water Advisory

SALUDA—The City of Saluda is now in a Stage I Water Condition Advisory, following both Polk and Henderson counties being in a moderate drought the last couple of weeks. 

Saluda sent notice Tuesday to its customers, asking them to voluntarily conserve water. 

“The advisory provides for voluntary conservation measures to be implemented,” said Saluda City Manager Jonathan Cannon. “This advisory will be in effect until the City of Hendersonville declares either a Stage IIA water shortage, Stage II B and/or a Stage III water shortage or once the water shortage is declared to be over.” 

Saluda purchases its water from the City of Hendersonville. Hendersonville officials recently said the city is currently experiencing lower than normal levels in their Mills River supply due to the ongoing drought conditions affecting most of the state. 

Customers are asked to limit car washing; lawn and garden watering; watering outside areas; not leaving faucets running; limiting clothes washers and dishwashers; taking short showers instead of baths; limiting flushing of toilets; using disposable dishes and limited hours of water-cooled air conditioners. 

The Town of Tryon also issued voluntary water conservation measures last week. 

Although the area has received some rain lately, including rain most of the day Sunday, Polk County has been in a moderate drought since Sept. 24 and abnormally dry since Sept. 10, according to the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council. 

Polk and Henderson counties were listed as of Oct. 8 as in a moderate drought, along with 41 other counties across the state. As of Oct. 8, there were also 19 counties listed in a severe drought, including a small portion of Henderson and Polk counties. 

Rain is forecast for Wednesday and next Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.