Watering limits lifted

The volunteer restriction on pumps to irrigate yards along lakes Keowee and Jocassee has been lifted. Homeowners there are no longer being asked to restrict use of the pumps to two days a week. According to Duke Energy, the change came January 2 when the Keowee-Toxaway River Basin recovered to stage 0 in the Low Inflow Protocol—due to improved water availability in the Keowee-Toxaway Basin. “While the region’s drought status has improved, conserving water is always good practice,” said Joe Hall, lake services director. The drought status is regularly reviewed by the Keowee-Toxaway Dought Management Advisory Group. The group takes in major water users and federal and state resource agencies.