Drought Levels

Current drought level

The City is in standard conservation, which restricts outside watering to twice every seven days at no more than 1 inch per week and not between the hours of noon to 6 p.m. Runoff of more than 150 feet down any street, gutter, alley or ditch is also prohibited.

Report watering violations by clicking here or calling 325-657-4409. Do your part; be water smart!

Standard conservation

In effect when the city has more than 24 months of available water supply.

Allowable watering days:

April 1 through October 31: Twice every seven days.

November 1 through March 31: Once every seven days.

Allowable application rates: Up to 1 inch per week.

Prohibited watering hours: Noon to 6 p.m. April 1 through October 31.

Hand watering of lawns, gardens, landscape areas, trees, shrubs or other plants being grown outdoors or foundations may be done on any day, except during the prohibited watering hours of noon to 6 p.m., provided the allowable application rate of 1 inch per week is not exceeded.

Landscape or foundation watering with a drip irrigation system such as a soaker hose, deep root watering system, drip pipe or tape, or bubbler shall be permitted on any day and at any time of day provided that the total amount of water applied shall not exceed 1 inch per week.

Golf course greens may be watered daily except during the prohibited watering hours of noon to 6 p.m.

Runoff of more than 150 feet down any street, gutter, alley or ditch is always prohibited, as is the failure to repair a controllable leak.

Drought Level 1

In effect when the city has less than 24 months of available water supply.

Allowable watering days:

April 1 through October 31: Once every seven days.

November 1 through March 31: Once every 14 days.

Allowable application rates: Up to 1 inch per week.

Prohibited watering hours: Noon to 6 p.m. April 1 through October 31.
 
Hand watering of lawns, gardens, landscape areas, trees, shrubs or other plants being grown outdoors or foundations may be done on any day, except during the prohibited watering hours of noon to 6 p.m., provided the allowable application rate of 1 inch per week is not exceeded.

Landscape or foundation watering with a drip irrigation system such as a soaker hose, deep root watering system, drip pipe or tape, or bubbler shall be permitted on any day and at any time of day provided that the total amount of water applied shall not exceed 1 inch per week.

Golf course greens may be watered daily except during the prohibited watering hours of noon to 6 p.m.

Runoff of more than 150 feet down any street, gutter, alley or ditch is always prohibited, as is the failure to repair a controllable leak.

Additional fees: The following multipliers will be assessed to the charge for the amount of water used when the City enters Drought Level 1.

Residential users:

• Usage from 0 to 2,000 gallons: none.
• Usage from 3,000 to 15,000 gallons: 1.05.
• Usage from 16,000 to 39,000 gallons: 1.1.
• Usage over 39,000 gallons: 1.2.

Nonresidential: 1.05.

Landscape: 1.1.

Fire hydrants: none.

Untreated water: none.

Drought Level 2 

In effect when the city has less than 18 months of available water supply.

Allowable watering days:

April 1 through October 31: Once every seven days.

November 1 through March 31: Once every 14 days.

Allowable application rates: Up to 1 inch per week.

Prohibited watering hours: Noon to 6 p.m. April 1 through October 31.

There are no exceptions for new landscapes, even if an exception was granted during Drought Level 1.

Hand watering of lawns, gardens, landscape areas, trees, shrubs or other plants being grown outdoors or foundations may be done on any day, provided the allowable application rate of 1 inch per week is not exceeded.

Landscape or foundation watering with a drip irrigation system such as a soaker hose, deep root watering system, drip pipe or tape, or bubbler shall be permitted on any day and at any time of day provided that the total amount of water applied shall not exceed 1 inch per week.

Golf course greens may be watered daily except during the prohibited watering hours of noon to 6 p.m.

Runoff of more than 150 feet down any street, gutter, alley or ditch is always prohibited, as is the failure to repair a controllable leak.

Additional fees: The following multipliers will be assessed to the charge for the amount of water used when the City enters Drought Level 2.

Residential users:

• Usage from 0 to 5,000 gallons: 1.1.
• Usage from 6,000 to 39,000 gallons: 1.2.
• Usage over 39,000 gallons: 1.3.

Nonresidential: 1.05.

Landscape: 1.2.

Fire hydrants: none.

Untreated water: 1.1.

Drought Level 3

In effect when the city has less than 12 months of available water supply.

Outdoor watering is prohibited. Hand-watering or drip irrigation of trees and foundations may be done on days and at times as established by the City Council.

Filling, refilling or maintaining the level of any fountain or swimming pool is prohibited. Washing automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats or other types of vehicles is prohibited except if the health, safety and welfare of the public is contingent upon vehicle cleaning, as determined by the director of city health services.

The City Council may allow exceptions to any of these provisions and may place conditions on any exception.

Additional fees: The following multipliers will be assessed to the charge for the amount of water used when the City enters Drought Level 3.

Residential:

• Usage from 0 to 5,000 gallons: 1.2.
• Usage from 6,000 to 39,000 gallons: 1.3.
• Usage over 39,000 gallons: 1.4.

Nonresidential: 1.1.

Landscape: 1.3.

Fire hydrants: none.

Untreated water: 1.2.