North Myrtle Beach, S.C. · June 3, 2026 · Thomas Beach Vacations Staff
North Myrtle Beach Asks Residents and Visitors to Conserve Water During Severe Drought
City issues voluntary conservation guidelines as South Carolina’s historic dry stretch continues — no mandatory restrictions currently in place.
The City of North Myrtle Beach is calling on residents, businesses, and visitors to voluntarily reduce water use as a prolonged drought continues to strain water resources across South Carolina. The appeal comes as the South Carolina Drought Response Committee maintains a severe drought designation statewide, pointing to record-low streamflows, declining groundwater levels, elevated wildfire risk, and an absence of meaningful rainfall relief.
No mandatory water restrictions are currently in effect for the City of North Myrtle Beach. City officials are instead relying on community cooperation to help protect the shared water supply while drought conditions persist.
A Drought Unlike Any in Recent Memory
The drought gripping the Grand Strand is not a routine dry spell. The stretch from September 2025 through March 2026 ranked as the driest in 131 years of recorded South Carolina weather history, according to state and federal climate data. Rainfall totals in the Myrtle Beach area ran nearly nine inches below normal over that six-month period — a pace of drying not seen along this coastline in over two decades. Horry County, which had no drought classification at all as recently as January 2026, reached severe drought status across every acre of its territory by spring.
The impacts extend beyond local borders. Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina all recorded their driest September-through-March periods since record-keeping began in 1895. The broader Southeast endured its driest November-through-February stretch since the late 1970s. Forecasters have not signaled a quick turnaround, noting it would take months of above-average rainfall to restore normal conditions across the region.
What the City Is Asking
City officials outlined a straightforward set of voluntary conservation measures for households and businesses:
- Limit unnecessary water use indoors and outdoors
- Reduce or temporarily pause outdoor irrigation and lawn watering
- Adjust irrigation timers and avoid running sprinklers during the hottest parts of the day
- Check for leaks and repair them promptly
- Turn off hoses and faucets when not in active use
Voluntary Irrigation Guidelines
To help offset peak demand from residential and commercial sprinkler systems, the City has outlined voluntary irrigation scheduling guidelines:
- Skip Mondays entirely — no irrigation that day
- Avoid irrigating between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. on any day
- Odd-numbered addresses: irrigate on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Even-numbered addresses: irrigate on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
These guidelines apply to residential and commercial properties alike and are intended to spread irrigation demand more evenly across the week while protecting groundwater levels during the ongoing dry period.
A Note for Visitors
North Myrtle Beach draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each summer to communities like Cherry Grove Beach, Ocean Drive, Crescent Beach, and Windy Hill. During drought conditions, even small conservation choices by guests add up. Those staying in oceanfront vacation homes or oceanfront condos with private outdoor showers or irrigation systems are encouraged to follow the city’s voluntary guidelines during their stay.
The city expressed appreciation for community-wide cooperation and emphasized that collective action — resident and visitor alike — is the most effective tool available while mandatory restrictions remain off the table.
Planning a trip to the Grand Strand this summer? Thomas Beach Vacations has been helping families find their perfect place on the North Myrtle Beach shore for decades. Browse available homes and condos at northmyrtlebeachvacations.com or call (843) 273-3001 — the team is glad to help you find the right rental for your stay.
Sources: City of North Myrtle Beach official public notice; WPDE ABC15 News; MyrtleBeachSC.com; U.S. Drought Monitor / Drought.gov.