Marble Falls moves to tougher water restrictions with Stage 2
MARBLE FALLS — The city Aug. 1 moved to mandatory Stage 2 watering restrictions because of the effects of the drought and continued triple-digit temperatures, officials said.
As lakes Travis and Buchanan drop to half-full levels, daytime temperatures meanwhile keep rising — staying above 100 degrees for more than 45 consecutive days.
The last time the city implemented mandatory water restrictions was during the drought in July 2009, city officials said.
“It was just time to do it,” said City Manager Ralph Hendricks. He added Mayor George Russell authorized going to Stage 2 on Aug. 1.
The water restrictions are tied to recommendations from the Lower Colorado River Authority, which manages the Highland Lakes — the region’s main source of drinking water for many towns and cities.
“The primary cause for the high water usage is the record-breaking temperatures and the lack of rainfall,” Hendricks said. “The city has also experienced an increased number of major water leaks … These leaks are related to the high temperatures and dry conditions.”
Under Stage 2, the city attempts to achieve a 30 percent reduction in daily water consumption.
That designation calls for mandatory restrictions on lawn watering to two days a week based on the last digit of a resident’s street address, officials said.
• Odd-number addresses: Wednesdays and Saturdays, midnight-10 a.m. and 7 p.m.-midnight
• Even-number addresses: Thursdays and Sundays, midnight-10 a.m. and 7 p.m.-midnight
• Commercial customers may water between midnight-10 a.m. and 7 p.m. midnight twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Other conservation measures include:
• Washing vehicles and boats with a bucket or hand-held nozzle only from midnight-10 a.m. or 7 p.m.-midnight. However, vehicles can still be washed at a commercial car wash or commercial service station.
• Filling or refilling any indoor or outdoor swimming pools, wading pools or jacuzzi-type pools is restricted to midnight-10 a.m. and 7 p.m.-midnight.
• Using ornamental fountains or ponds is prohibited except to keep aquatic life alive or where there is a recirculation system.
• Fire hydrants are off-limits except to first responders.
• Irrigating golf course greens, tees, and fairways is prohibited except on designated outdoor water use days (the same schedule as washing vehicles) unless the golf course uses a water source other than one provided by the city.
• Restaurants can’t serve water to patrons unless the customer asks.
In addition, there are nonessential uses for water that are prohibited at all times, officials said:
• Washing down sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts or other hard-surfaced areas.
• Washing down buildings or structures unless it’s for fire protection.
• Controlling dust.
• Flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street.
• Failing to repair a leak within a reasonable period after getting a notice from the city.
For more water-use restrictions under Stage 2 and to review the City’s Drought Contingency Plan, visit the city’s website at www.ci.marble-falls.tx.us or call City Hall at (830) 693-3615.
Hendricks said the restrictions are necessary.
“The citizens of Marble Falls have helped us to avoid mandatory conservation measures through most of the summer,” he said. “The voluntary water conservation measures that residents and businesses initially took this summer were helpful; however water use continues to be higher than is comfortable for our production facility.”
He said Marble Falls is just one of many cities taking similar measures to conserve water during the drought.
According to city ordinances, a violation of the watering restrictions is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $500-$1,000. After three such violations, the mayor or another city representative can order the offender’s water supply to be shut off.