Forsyth County Commissioners Reschedule July 27 Briefing; Voluntary Water Conservation Measures Now in Effect

Forsyth County residents now have two immediate changes to track: commissioners will begin their July 27, 2026, briefing at 1 p.m., an hour earlier than the usual 2 p.m. start, while voluntary water conservation measures are in effect amid dry conditions. The meeting will be held in the Commissioners' Meeting Room on the fifth floor of the Forsyth County Government Center, 201 North Chestnut Street in Winston-Salem. In a separate announcement, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities implemented Stage 1 voluntary water conservation measures effective July 7, 2026, in response to increasingly dry conditions in Forsyth and surrounding North Carolina counties.

The one-hour time change means residents who planned to attend at the standard 2 p.m. start would arrive after the briefing has concluded. The seven-member board includes one at-large commissioner and six elected from two multi-member districts — four from District B and two from District A. Meetings are open to the public and streamed through the county's website, YouTube, and Facebook pages. Residents are notified about schedule changes through direct email notifications sent to those who previously requested them, plus physical postings on bulletin boards outside the Commissioners' Meeting Room on the fifth floor and in the lobby on the first floor of the Government Center.

Stage 1 conservation is voluntary, with no penalties for noncompliance; residents and businesses are encouraged but not legally required to reduce water usage. Recommended steps include limiting lawn and landscape watering to one hour per day during off-peak times — before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m. to reduce evaporation — fixing leaks, taking five-minute showers, running only full loads in dishwashers and washing machines, turning off faucets while brushing teeth or shaving, and reducing vehicle washing and hosing of paved surfaces.

Gale Ketteler, public information officer for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities, said, "We're continuing to monitor our water supply and those of neighboring water utilities. Hopefully, this week's predicted thunderstorms will help recharge the watershed. Until then, we encourage customers to be mindful of their water use and employ conservation tips that help keep the water supply higher and water bills lower." Winston-Salem, Burlington, and Wilkesboro entered Stage 1 voluntary water restrictions in early July 2026.

The county published the briefing schedule change and the water conservation measures in separate notices, requiring residents to track multiple channels to stay informed. Residents who do not subscribe to direct email notifications or visit the Government Center in person may not learn about the schedule change until it is too late to adjust their plans.

Updated meeting schedules and agendas are posted on the Forsyth County website's Commissioners meeting schedule and agenda pages, and residents can request direct email notifications about future changes. Information about current water conservation measures and any future escalations is available through Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities announcements. As dry conditions persist, residents should monitor both county and utility notices for any escalation from voluntary Stage 1 measures to mandatory restrictions.