PHOTO: The Guadalupe River is unusually low for this time of year, which limits the City’s ability to pump water.
Residents must take additional steps to conserve water as the City enters Stage III of its drought contingency plan.
High atmospheric pressure is causing high temperatures and low rainfall across the region. This has led to a severe reduction in the water flow of the Guadalupe River, which limits the City’s ability to pump water from the river under the terms of the City’s Texas Commission on Environmental Quality permit.
The City is entering Stage III of the plan to reduce demand on the City’s water reserves.
Restrictions under Stage III are designed to reduce Victoria’s total water usage by 10 percent compared to normal usage without placing an undue burden on residents’ quality of life.
What must residents do to conserve water?
Under Stage III restrictions, residents must continue to limit certain types of nonessential water usage to the hours of 6-10 a.m. and 8 p.m.-midnight to avoid water loss through evaporation. Activities that are limited to these times include using an automatic lawn sprinkler or hose-end sprinkler, filling pools and washing vehicles, although this restriction does not apply to commercial car washes and service stations.
Residents can water their lawns with hoses at any time of day, as long as the hose has a positive shut-off nozzle.
Residents must also observe the following new restrictions:
- Sprinkler irrigation must be limited to designated watering days:
- Addresses ending in an even number: Sundays and Thursdays
- Addresses ending in an odd number: Saturdays and Wednesdays
- Decorative fountains cannot be operated unless needed to keep fish alive, unless the fountain uses a recirculation system.
- Water may not be used to wash paved surfaces or buildings, control dust or flush gutters.
- Water may not be allowed to run or accumulate in any gutter or street.
- Water customers who are directed to repair leaks must do so within 15 days.
- Restaurants may not serve water unless it is requested.
- Fire hydrants can only be used for firefighting and other essential activities.
- Golf courses cannot be watered unless a different water source is used.
When will the restrictions be lifted?
The City will terminate Stage III restrictions and re-enter Stage II of the drought contingency plan when available water reserves rise above the Stage III triggering threshold and when Public Works determines that the City’s water intake can meet demand without the restrictions.
For more information about the drought contingency plan, visit www.victoriatx.gov/droughtplan or contact Public Works at 361-485-3380.