drinking water

Dry stretch continues as Durham reservoirs slip to 36%

Durham’s reservoirs lost another percentage point during a dry week, but lower demand helped keep the city’s readily accessible supply estimate at 90 days. Stage 2 water restrictions remain in effect.

Wes Platt

Wes Platt

— 6 min read
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Dry stretch continues as Durham reservoirs slip to 36%
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Durham’s combined reservoir storage fell to 36% as another week passed without measurable rain at the city’s two water-supply lakes.

The city’s latest snapshot, updated Oct. 22, shows an estimated 90 days of readily accessible reservoir water remaining. That estimate is unchanged from the Oct. 18 update, even though combined storage declined from 37%.

The reason is demand. The 30-day average demand placed on Durham’s reservoirs fell from 24.71 million gallons per day to 23.86 million gallons per day. Because the city calculates its days-of-supply estimates using recent demand, lower use can extend the estimated timeline even when the reservoirs haven’t gained water.

Durham remains under Stage 2 mandatory water restrictions, and the city continues to be classified in severe drought.

Southpoint Access | Durham water supply

By the numbers

Figures updated Oct. 22, 2026

36%of combined reservoir capacity

Reservoir storage

Down from 37% on Oct. 18.

90days of estimated supply

Readily accessible water

Reservoir water above normal intake levels. Unchanged from the previous update.

159days of estimated supply

Total estimated supply

Includes less accessible water and Teer Quarry. Up from 157 days.

23.86million gallons per day

30-day reservoir demand

Average demand placed on the reservoirs, down from 24.71 million gallons per day.

31.10million gallons

One day’s citywide demand

Durham’s total water demand on Oct. 22.

32.06million gallons per day

October citywide average

Average daily demand during the first 22 days of October.

Reading the numbers: Supply estimates depend partly on recent demand. The 159-day total includes the 90 readily accessible days. Citywide demand includes water from sources beyond the reservoirs.

Source: City of Durham water supply data, as reported in the Oct. 26 Southpoint Access update.

Lake Michie falls while Little River edges higher

The city’s latest lake-level readings, taken Oct. 21, show different movement at the two reservoirs:

  • Lake Michie: 329.83 feet, or 11.17 feet below full. That’s 0.31 feet lower than the Oct. 18 reading.
  • Little River Reservoir: 337.51 feet, or 17.49 feet below full. That’s 0.14 feet higher than the Oct. 18 reading.

The city’s published data don’t explain the small rise at Little River Reservoir. No additional October rainfall was recorded at either lake between the Oct. 18 and Oct. 22 updates.

October rainfall remained at 1.60 inches at Lake Michie and 0.77 inches at Little River Reservoir. Year-to-date totals stood at 29.48 inches and 22.42 inches, respectively.

Why the total supply estimate increased

Durham’s broader supply estimate rose from 157 days to 159 days, but that doesn’t mean the city added water.

The estimate includes three sources:

  • 90 days of water readily accessible above the reservoirs’ intake levels
  • 50 days of water below the normal intake levels, up from 48 days in the previous update
  • 19 days stored at Teer Quarry

Those figures are estimates based partly on recent demand. With the 30-day reservoir-demand average declining, the same amount of stored water can translate into more estimated days.

The 159-day total also includes water that isn’t as readily available as the first 90 days. Water below the normal intakes would require additional measures to access, while Teer Quarry is a separate emergency supply.

Demand remains elevated

Durham used 31.10 million gallons of water on Oct. 22. The month-to-date average was 32.06 million gallons per day, nearly unchanged from the 32.05 million-gallon average reported through Oct. 18.

That October average is about 4% higher than the city’s October 2025 average of 30.75 million gallons per day.

The city’s total demand figure includes water supplied from sources beyond the reservoirs, which is why it’s higher than the 23.86 million-gallon 30-day average attributed specifically to reservoir withdrawals.

Stage 2 restrictions remain in effect

Durham’s Stage 2 mandatory water restrictions remain unchanged. Among the requirements:

  • Limit spray irrigation to one day per week according to the city’s odd-even address schedule.
  • Don’t water between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
  • Don’t wash vehicles at home unless using a bucket and a hose with a shutoff nozzle.
  • Don’t wash paved surfaces unless necessary for health or safety.
  • Repair water leaks promptly.

Hand watering and drip irrigation are allowed under the city’s published rules. Residents should check the city’s Durham Saves Water page for the complete restrictions and any changes.

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