Raleigh City Council Work Session - Tuesday, September 15, 2026

The City of Raleigh held a work session on September 15, 2026, focused primarily on water supply management, drought conditions, and future infrastructure planning. Raleigh Water officials provided detailed updates on current drought status, water demand trends, and conservation efforts, highlighting improvements in reservoir levels and the effectiveness of recent water use restrictions. They discussed ongoing and planned capital projects, including upgrades to Lake Benson and Lake Wheeler dams, and studies on reclaimed water use to augment supply. The council reviewed long-term regional water supply alternatives, such as the Carl Lake and Noose River intake projects, with cost estimates ranging from $540 million to over $2 billion, and environmental considerations including endangered species and mitigation costs. The discussion also covered inter-municipal water partnerships, smart meter usage for monitoring compliance, and potential policy changes to water shortage response plans and rate structures to encourage conservation. Council members inquired about project timelines, economic incentives, and the impact of growth on water demand, with staff indicating plans to present a final regional water supply plan to state authorities in October and to return with updated water shortage policies by year-end.