Under the Drought Contingency Plan adopted by the City Council on May 10, 2011, the City Manager has the authority to initiate or terminate drought response measures, as needed.

Stage 1 - Mild Water Shortage Condition - Voluntary Conservation

Customers are requested to voluntarily limit irrigation of landscaped areas, practice water conservation and minimize or discontinue water use for all non-essential purposes.

Automatic Irrigation Systems

• Applies to residential, commercial, recreational facilities and athletic fields.
• Watering Days are Sundays and Thursdays for even addresses.
• Watering Days are Saturdays and Wednesdays for odd addresses.
• Watering Hours will be after 10 p.m. and no later than 6 a.m.
• No watering to occur between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Manual Systems

Manual systems include Hose-end sprinklers, hand held sprinklers, soakers, drip irrigation systems.

The following steps should be followed:

• Applies to residential, commercial, recreational facilities and athletic fields.
• Watering Days are Sundays and Thursdays for even addresses.
• Watering Days are Saturdays and Wednesdays for odd addresses.
• Watering Hours are unrestricted.

Stage 2 - Moderate Water Shortage Condition

Customers are required to comply with all provisions of Stage 1 and:

• Restaurants are to serve water only on request of the customer.
• Use of water to wash down sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, etc. is prohibited.
• Use of water to wash down buildings is prohibited.
• Use of water for dust control is prohibited.
• Flushing gutters or permitting water to run in the gutter or street is prohibited.

Stage 3 - Severe Water Shortage Condition

Customers are required to comply with all provisions of Stage 2 and:

• Watering of golf courses, driving ranges and athletic fields is prohibited.
• Use of water for construction purposes from designated fire hydrants under special permit is discontinued.

Stage 4 - Critical Water Shortage Condition

Customers are required to comply with all provisions of Stages 2, 3, and:

• Use of automatic sprinkler systems and hose-end sprinklers is prohibited.
• Only hand-held hoses, hand-held buckets or drip irrigation is allowed.
• Use of water to wash vehicles at a non-commercial location is prohibited.
• Use of water to wash vehicles at commercial car washes will only be allowed between 6 - 10 a.m. and 6 - 10 p.m.
• No filling of any type of pool is allowed.
• All use of ornamental fountains or ponds is prohibited.
• No applications for new water connections shall be approved.

Stage 5 - Emergency Water Shortage Condition

Applies when a Water Supply Emergency exists due to natural disasters, emergency draw-down of Lake Livingston, major water line breaks in the transmission line or major distribution lines, pump or system failures, or natural or man-made contamination of the water supply source occurs.

Customers are required to comply with all provisions of Stages 2, 3, and 4 and:

• All irrigation of landscaped areas is prohibited.
• Use of water to wash any type of vehicle is prohibited.
• Curtailment of service to persons in violation of the prohibited uses may be ordered.
• Installation of new landscaping will be delayed.