Rutherford County Drought: La Vergne Asks Residents to Cut Water Use

All of Rutherford County is now in drought on the U.S. Drought Monitor, with nearly two-thirds of the county in severe drought. La Vergne has moved to its D2 stage and is asking residents to voluntarily cut water use to lower peak demand by 10 percent.

All of Rutherford County is in drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor map dated Oct. 13, 2026, and 63.84 percent of the county is in severe (D2) drought. A small share, 1.99 percent, is in extreme (D3) drought. Six weeks earlier, on the Sept. 8 map, none of the county was in drought at all.

In response, the City of La Vergne moved into the D2 (Severe Drought) stage of its drought management plan on Oct. 15 and is asking residents to voluntarily reduce water use, with a goal of lowering peak demand by 10 percent per day.

How bad is the drought in Rutherford County?

The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) labels areas from D0 (abnormally dry) through D1 (moderate drought), D2 (severe drought), D3 (extreme drought) and D4 (exceptional drought). Its county statistics for Rutherford County show how quickly conditions changed this fall:

| Map date | Abnormally dry or worse (D0+) | Moderate drought or worse (D1+) | Severe drought or worse (D2+) | Extreme drought (D3) | |---|---|---|---|---| | Sept. 1 | 6.28% | 0% | 0% | 0% | | Sept. 8 | 29.34% | 0% | 0% | 0% | | Sept. 15 | 100% | 1.24% | 0% | 0% | | Sept. 22 | 100% | 49.04% | 0% | 0% | | Sept. 29 | 100% | 100% | 12.95% | 0% | | Oct. 6 | 100% | 100% | 48.96% | 1.99% | | Oct. 13 | 100% | 100% | 63.84% | 1.99% |

No part of the county was in exceptional (D4) drought on any of those maps. The Drought Monitor publishes a new map each week, so these figures will change as rain does or does not arrive.

What is La Vergne asking residents to do?

La Vergne says D2 conditions indicate declining water levels and increasing demand on the system. The city is asking residents to cut back voluntarily, aiming to lower peak demand by 10 percent each day, and says city staff are monitoring conditions daily.

The city lists these as non-essential water uses to avoid:

• Washing sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, patios or other paved surfaces
• Filling or refilling swimming pools
• Noncommercial washing of vehicles, trailers or boats
• Using water from fire hydrants, except for firefighting or authorized city use
• Watering lawns, gardens, landscaped areas, trees, shrubs or other plants
• Watering recreational fields with potable water
• Using water for dust control or compaction during construction

Could La Vergne water restrictions become mandatory?

Yes, if conditions worsen. La Vergne's drought management plan has five stages tied to the drought categories:

• Phase 0 (D0), Normal Conditions: No restrictions.
• Phase 1 (D1), Moderate / Drought Alert: No restrictions; conditions are monitored.
• Phase 2 (D2), Severe: Voluntary water reductions requested. This is the current stage.
• Phase 3 (D3), Extreme: Mandatory water restrictions.
• Phase 4 (D4), Exceptional: Emergency water management measures.

The city says it will share updates on its website, on Channel 3 and on its official social media accounts. More about the city is in OnlyInMurfreesboro's La Vergne, Tennessee guide.

Are there water restrictions in Murfreesboro or Smyrna?

As of Oct. 18, 2026, Murfreesboro Water Resources, the Consolidated Utility District of Rutherford County and the Town of Smyrna had not posted drought notices or water restrictions on their websites. Customers of those utilities can check each utility's site for any change.

Is there a burn ban in Rutherford County?

No. As of Oct. 18, the Tennessee Division of Forestry's burn ban page said there were no active burn bans in Tennessee. Burn permit season is in effect, though: from Oct. 15 through May 15, a permit from the Division of Forestry is required for debris pile fires and prescribed fires. The division says permits are issued only when it is safe to burn, and it pauses permits during hazardous fire conditions. Some cities and counties have stricter local burning rules that take precedence.

Drought, heat and the household budget

The dry fall followed a hot stretch; OnlyInMurfreesboro covered why MTE electric bills ran high after a record September. For forecasts and seasonal norms, see the Murfreesboro weather guide. Homeowners deciding whether to hold off on fall seeding or irrigation can find local providers in the lawn care in Murfreesboro guide, and the city's fall leaf collection is underway.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rutherford County in a drought?

Yes. The U.S. Drought Monitor map dated Oct. 13, 2026, shows 100 percent of Rutherford County in moderate drought or worse, 63.84 percent in severe drought and 1.99 percent in extreme drought.

What does D2 drought mean?

D2 is the U.S. Drought Monitor's "severe drought" category, one step above moderate (D1) and one below extreme (D3). In La Vergne's drought plan, D2 triggers a request for voluntary water reductions.

Are La Vergne water restrictions mandatory?

Not yet. At the D2 stage, La Vergne is asking for voluntary cuts. Under the city's plan, mandatory restrictions begin at the D3 (Extreme) stage.

Can I water my lawn in La Vergne?

The city lists watering lawns, gardens, trees, shrubs and other plants as a non-essential use it is asking residents to avoid during the D2 stage. The request is voluntary.

Does Murfreesboro have water restrictions?

As of Oct. 18, 2026, Murfreesboro Water Resources had not posted a drought notice or water restrictions on the city's website.

Can I burn leaves in Rutherford County right now?

There was no state burn ban in effect as of Oct. 18. From Oct. 15 through May 15, debris burning requires a burn permit from the Tennessee Division of Forestry, and local rules inside some cities may be stricter.

Sources: U.S. Drought Monitor: Rutherford County drought severity statistics, U.S. Drought Monitor: Drought Classification, City of La Vergne: D2 Drought Status, City of Murfreesboro: News Flash, Consolidated Utility District of Rutherford County, Town of Smyrna, Tennessee Division of Forestry: Burn Bans, Tennessee Division of Forestry: Get a Burn Permit.

*Illustration: AI-generated image; not an actual Murfreesboro location.*