City urges water conservation amid ongoing drought conditions

posted on 8/25/2026

The City of Dover urges residents and businesses to voluntary reduce water consumption due to the ongoing regional drought conditions. These voluntary measures will remain in place until drought conditions improve.

While many communities across the region implemented mandatory water restrictions, the city anticipates voluntary water use reductions will be sufficient, said Community Services Director John Storer, who oversees the city's water system.

"We've been fortunate to make it through the bulk of the summer without requesting any use restrictions, but we're starting to feel the effects of the extended regional drought," Storer said. "Cutting back on lawn irrigation and other water-intensive activities will go a long way in ensuring the city has enough water for everyone, including our firefighters when they need it most."

Current aquifer levels will be discussed at the City Council's workshop on the city's water utility system, which will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026.

The region has experienced drought conditions since July 8, 2025, when the U.S. Drought Monitor classified the region to be abnormally dry. Conditions worsened to moderate drought levels on Aug. 12, 2025, followed by severe drought conditions starting on Sept. 16, 2026. Severe drought conditions persisted through June 30, 2026, when conditions were upgraded to moderate drought conditions, where it has remained.

Ways to conserve water

The public can conserve water in many ways:

• Limit outdoor watering. According to the EPA, irrigation accounts for 30% of residential water use nationally — about 9 billion gallons per day. Avoid irrigating during the day, especially the hottest parts of the day when evaporation is highest.
• Utilize commercial car washes. They are more efficient with water and don’t dump dirty water into the storm drains.
• Fixing leaky plumbing conserves water and saves money. Leaking faucets and toilets can waste thousands of gallons a year, leading to increased water bills.
• Be mindful of indoor water use. Take shorter showers, turn off the water when brushing teeth, and run dishwashers and washing machines only when full.

Find additional resources at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense online resource.

Track water use, get leak alerts with ‘Eye On Water’

The city's public water customers can monitor their water usage with the Eye On Water online portal and mobile app. The system helps track daily, monthly, and yearly consumption; users can also sign up to receive alerts for potential leaks. Customers will need their account number from their water bill. For assistance, contact the Water and Sewer Billing Office at 603-516-6028.