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http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8194899HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The city of Houston is asking for the public's help to voluntarily conserve water during this period of prolonged drought.
Mayor Annise Parker at an afternoon press conference today said the city is implementing a Stage 1 Water Conservation Plan, a first step when the city's water system may be under stress.
"We have ample supplies of water in reservoirs and our transmission system, but because of shifting clay soil in the city of Houston, we are facing water main breaks which is affecting our water distribution," Mayor Parker said.
She urged residents to cut back on irrigation to prioritize water pressure for homes and businesses. The mayor suggested that property owners with even-numbered street addresses water their lawns on Sunday and Thursday, and property owners with odd-numbered street addresses water on Saturday and Wednesday.
"We do need the public's help. In addition to conservation, we need to know where water line breaks are as soon as possible," said the mayor.
She also said the city is cutting its water by 10% and asking all departments to look at water use, including the Parks Department, but she said they will water appropriately to maintain the tree canopy and prevent tree loss.
The mayor said Stage 2 would require mandatory water conservation.
Other communities around Houston
A number of other communities are facing high water usage, as our extremely hot and dry weather continues its record streak.
Despite the completion of repairs to a water line that broke last week, League City is still enacting stage three of their drought contingency plan, in an effort to maintain pressure for firefighting purposes and to avoid other problems associated with low pressure. Violations of the restrictions are considered misdemeanor crimes. Violators may face fines of $500 plus court fees each day that one or more restrictions are violated.
League City mandatory water restrictions:
* Irrigation of landscaped areas is limited to Tuesdays and Thursdays for water customers with even-numbered addresses, and Mondays and Wednesdays for water customers with odd-numbered addresses. Irrigation of landscaped areas is further limited to the hours between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. on designated watering days. Irrigation shall be by means of hand-held hoses, hand-held buckets, drip irrigation, or permanently installed automatic sprinkler system only. The use of hose-end sprinklers is prohibited at all times.
* Use of water to wash any motor vehicle, motorbike, boat, trailer, airplane, or other vehicle is prohibited except on designated watering days from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Such washing, when allowed, shall be done with a hand-held bucket or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shutoff nozzle for quick rinses. Vehicle washing may be done at any time on the premises of a commercial car wash or commercial service station. Washing may be exempted from these regulations if the health, safety and welfare of the public is contingent upon frequent vehicle cleansing, such as garbage trucks and vehicles used to transport food and perishables.
* Use of water to fill, refill or add to any indoor or outdoor swimming pools, wading pools and Jacuzzi-type pools is prohibited except on designated watering days from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
* Use of water for washing down of any sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, or other hard-surfaced areas is prohibited.
* Using water to wash down buildings or structures for purposes other than immediate fire protection is prohibited.
* Flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street is prohibited.
* Failing to repair a controllable leak within a reasonable period of five days after having been given notice directing the repair of such leak is prohibited.
* Operation of any ornamental fountain or pond for aesthetic or scenic purposes is prohibited except when necessary to support aquatic life or when such fountains or ponds are equipped with a recirculation system.
* Use of water from hydrants shall be limited to fire fighting, related activities, or other activities necessary to maintain public health, safety and welfare, except that use of water from designated fire hydrants for construction purposes under special permit is discontinued.
* All restaurants are prohibited from serving water to patrons except upon request of the patron.
* The watering of golf course tee boxes is prohibited unless the golf course utilizes a water source other than that provided by the city.
* The City of League City will continue to monitor the water levels and update residents on
http://www.leaguecity.comSugar Land voluntary water conservation details:
To reduce peak demand and total water consumption, Sugar Land residents are asked to water lawns according to the following schedule:
* Even numbered addresses on even numbered days of the month from 8 p.m. to midnight
* Odd numbered addresses on odd numbered days of the month from 8 p.m. to midnight
* For more information on the city's voluntary irrigation schedule, call the Sugar Land Utilities Department at 281-275-2450
Pearland outdoor watering schedule:
* Residents are asked to limit non-essential water use to the hours of 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday.
* Odd-numbered addresses are requested to water on odd dates and even-numbered addresses are requested to water on even dates. For example, 3519 Liberty Drive can water on June 17, 19, 21, etc. since the address ends in an odd number.
* For more information about the voluntary watering schedule or the Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan, please call the Public Works Department at 281-652-1900
La Porte voluntary reduction in water usage
* The City of La Porte has issued a formal notice informing citizens that the City is implementing a Stage 1 "Mild Conditions" drought contingency alert and is calling for a voluntary reduction in water usage by residents and business owners.
* The City requests that all residential and commercial users reduce their water consumption where possible and restrict their lawn watering to every other day between the hours of 6 10 a.m. and 8 10 p.m.
* Please visit the City of La Porte website at LaPorteTX.gov for the most up to date information related to the City's Drought Contingency Plan or call 281-470-5020.
The City of Galveston is enacting stage three of its Drought Contingency Plan. Restrictions on water use will continue until further notice, as of June 16. Violating the following water use restrictions could result in fines and penalties.
The City of Galveston has instituted the following water restrictions:
* Irrigation of landscaped areas is limited to Tuesdays and Thursdays for water customers east of 103rd Street, and Wednesdays and Fridays for water customers west of 103rd Street and must be completed before 10AM or after 8:00PM on designated days. Watering by means of a hand-held hose, a faucet filled bucket or watering can of five (5) gallons or less, or drip irrigation system is allowed on designated days. The use of hoseend sprinklers and automatic sprinkler systems is prohibited at all times.
* Private use of water to wash any motor vehicle, motorbike, boat, trailer, airplane or other vehicle is prohibited except on designated watering days before 10AM or after 8PM. Such washing, when allowed, shall be done with a hand-held bucket or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shutoff nozzle for quick rinses. Vehicle washing may be done at any time on the premises of a commercial car wash or commercial service station. Further, such washing may be exempted from these regulations if, as determined by the Director of Municipal Utilities, the health, safety, and welfare of the public is contingent upon frequent vehicle cleansing, such as garbage trucks, fishing vessels, and vehicles used to transport food and perishables.
* Use of water to fill, refill, or add to any indoor or outdoor swimming pools, wading pools or Jacuzzi-type pools is prohibited except on designated watering days before 10AM or after 8PM.
* The addition of potable water to any ornamental fountain or pond for aesthetic or scenic purposes is prohibited except where necessary to support aquatic life.
* Use of water from hydrants shall be limited to fire fighting, related activities, or other activities necessary to maintain public health, safety, and welfare. The use of water for construction purposes from designated fire hydrants by special permit is prohibited, except with the written permission of the Director of Municipal Utilities.
* Unless permitted by the Director of Municipal Utilities, use of potable water for the irrigation of golf course greens, tees, and fairways is prohibited except on designated watering days before 10AM or after 8PM. However, if the golf course utilizes a water source other than potable water provided by the City of Galveston (e.g. reclaimed, non-potable water), the facility shall not be subject to these regulations. Please note, Moody Gardens, the Moody Gardens Golf Course, and the Galveston Country Club Golf Course use non-potable water to irrigate their landscapes.
* All restaurants are prohibited from serving water to patrons except upon patron request.
* The following uses of potable water are prohibited:
* Washing down of any sidewalks, walkways, driveway, parking lot, tennis courts, or other hard-surfaced areas;
* Washing down buildings or structures for purposes other than immediate fire protection;
* Using water for dust control, except as permitted by the Director of Municipal Utilities;
* Using water for hydrant flushing, flushing gutters, or permitting water to run or accumulate in any street; and
* Failure to repair a controllable leak(s) within a reasonable period after having been given notice directing the repair of such leak(s).
* To report water leaks or violations please call the Public Works Department, Monday Friday, 8AM 5PM, at 409-797-3630. To report leaks afterhours please call 409-766-2115. To report violations after 5PM on weekdays, as well as on weekends, please call the Galveston Police Department's non-emergency number, 409-765-3702.
Other water conservation tips:
* Set lawn mower blades one notch higher so they cut grass 2 to 3 inches tall, leave grass clippings on lawns,and cover bare ground with mulch to save up to 100 gallons or more per week.
* Check sprinkler heads, valves and drip emitters monthly. Make sure heads are aimed correctly, and immediately repair broken heads.
* Use a broom to clear pavement.
* Use a hose spray nozzle with a shutoff handle to stop water flow.
* Create a water-efficient landscape (called a xeriscape) by using drought-resistant and native plants.
* Repair leaks
* Run faucets only when using them.
* Install water-efficient fixtures.
Also the 12zECMWF forecast widespread rain for most of Texas on Wednesday.
