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KXAN-TV 36 Austin News: Water Watch
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Water Watch
Stage II mandatory watering restrictions will be lifted Friday, September 22, at noon. A combination of lower temperatures and recent rains convinced City Water and Wastewater officials that Stage II restrictions could be safely lifted.
The regulations limiting automated lawn watering to a five-day schedule, and allowing only evening and overnight watering, have been in effect since mid-July.
"Lifting restrictions for City water customers does not mean that we should abandon water conservation," said Water and Wastewater Utility Director Chris Lippe. "It is in the best interests of the City's water consumers and all central Texans to conserve our water."
Water use skyrocketed to 220 million gallons on Saturday, July 15. While number was high enough to trigger a stage III drought alert, city officials are trying stage II restrictions initially, in hopes of reducing the high demand for water.
The 5-day water schedule is now voluntary.
A stage II drought alert means the following guidelines must be observed:
- Outdoor irrigation requirements for all customers, except for commercial plant nurseries. Outdoor irrigation is permitted:
- By hand-held hose, or a hand-held bucket anytime.
- By a hose-end sprinkler, a soaker hose, or drip irrigation, from midnight to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to midnight on your designated watering day.
- By a permanently installed automatic irrigation system from midnight to 10 a.m. on your designated watering day.
- Requirements for washing cars, trucks, boats or airplanes, except for commercial car washes or when it is necessary for public health:
- Washing is prohibited except on your designated watering day from midnight to 10 a.m. and from 7 p.m. to midnight.
- The washing must be done with a hand-held bucket or a hand-held hose with a shutoff nozzle.
Charity car washes are prohibited.
- Watering the foundation to prevent foundation cracking is prohibited except on your designated watering day from midnight to 10 a.m.
- Adding water to a swimming or wading pool or to a pond is prohibited, except for public pools that do not leak and have a recirculation device.
- Operating an ornamental fountain or similar structure is prohibited.
- Irrigating a golf fairway is prohibited except on a designated watering day from midnight to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to midnight.
- A green or tee may be watered every other day, if a plan is filed with the Director of the Water Wastewater Utility.
- Washing a sidewalk, driveway, parking area, street, tennis court or other paved area is prohibited, except to alleviate an immediate health or safety hazard.
- Restaurants may serve water when requested by the customer.
- Irrigation of new landscape installations is permitted if granted permission.
If stage III restrictions are implemented, only hand watering will be allowed, and fines for violating the policy will climb to $1,500.
In stage three, new landscape installations will also be outlawed.
Water utility staff will be riding with police officers to patrol neighborhoods and respond to complaints called in on the city's water waster hotline. That number is 499-2199.
For more information about water conservation, check out the city's Web site.
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