MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Mandatory water restrictions are taking effect across the Charlotte region as officials grapple with one of the worst droughts in nearly two decades. But in some municipalities, including Mount Holly, it’s not just the lack of rain drawing attention — it’s the potential penalties.
In Mount Holly, repeated violations of the city’s new water conservation rules could lead to fines and, eventually, having water service shut off.
The drought’s impact is already visible across Gaston County. At Kevin Loftin Park in Belmont, lake levels have dropped so low that mud now fills areas where kayakers typically launch. Wildlife appears confused as shorelines recede.
“I don’t know how they’re going to regulate that,” said Anne Owens, a Mount Holly resident…