On September 18th I wrote a post contemplating whether cities within York County like Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Tega Cay will ease water restrictions with the recent rain activity (Will Recent Rains Lift Tega Cay and Fort Mill SC Water Restrictions?). Although the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group has not posted online a news release easing the water restriction, the Rock Hill Herald reported today the advisory group did give the ok. This is good news to landscapers and those of us seeding our lawns for the fall.

Tuesday the Rock Hill city council passed a temporary amendment to the current restrictions allowing landscape watering to occur twice a week until November 30th 2008. Rock Hill water customers with odd numbered addresses can water on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Even numbered addresses can water on Thursdays and Sundays. The change applies to lawn watering, car washing, and pool/fountain filling. Rock Hill has not yet updated their website information.

If you live in non incorporated areas of York County, your water restrictions are similar to Rock Hill’s temporary plan. Here is a link to York County’s website water restriction info.  New water restrictions York County

Fort Mill’s website indicates a similar ease of restrictions now through November 30th accept the two day allowed watering days are Wednesday and Saturday for all Fort Mill addresses. Pool filling is only allowed on Saturdays. Here is the Fort Mill water restriction link. Fort Mill Water Restrictions.

I called the city of Tega Cay today. Tega Cay has not yet changed to the new two day a week plan. The administration office employee was not sure if the council would discuss the matter in tonight’s public hearing schedule to discuss the alcohol referendum. The council must vote on the change before the restrictions can be changed.

Update as of Decemeber 12, 2008.

I checked both Rock Hill and Fort Mill city websites and the twice per week restirction that was to end Novemebr 30th has been extended until further notice by both cities.

I had to laugh when I read a Fort Mill Times editorial this week about Wal-Mart building a wall of stores around our community. I posted Sunday the news about a new Wal-Mart planned for Highway 21 and Flint Hill road and another store is planned in the Lake Wylie area. What I did not say is Wal-Mart has been planning a new store in Lancaster County on Highway 521 in Indian Land. Wal-Mart and Lancaster County officials did not know when construction will begin of the Indian Land Wal-Mart.

Still not enough shop to you drop? Construction for a new Wal-Mart is schedule to begin this year in the Newport community northwest of Rock Hill near the intersection of Highway 161 and Heckle Boulevard.

It is obvious that many big box retailers not just Wal-Mart have targeted our area because of the tremendous growth in our area. Lowe’s plans to start construction of a new store in the Queensgate development district on the corner of Hghway 521 and SC 160.

The debate is on whether the expansive retail development will negatively or positively impact our area. The fact is its coming whether we are ready or not. I will be surprised if all start construction this year based on the current economic conditions. Time will tell.