To: All Skyline Ranch Estates Water Supply Corporation (SREWSC) members
From: Steve Greenberg, SREWSC President
Re: Drought Stage news
The Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (HTGCD) has issued a press release and has notified us by email regarding its Board’s recent issuance of an “Alarm Stage” drought declaration.
The press release can be seen on HTGCD’s website:
http://haysgroundwater.com/files/PublicNotices/2011_DroughtAlarmStage_PressRelease.pdf
The HTGCD Alarm Stage order can also be seen on HTGCD’s website:
http://haysgroundwater.com/files/Orders/149_Order_AlarmStageDrought.pdf
SREWSC’s drought stage triggers are governed by our Drought Contingency Plan, filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the main state agency having authority over WSC operations; and we remain in Drought Stage 1 pursuant to our Drought Contingency Plan and Tariff:
SREWSC Drought Contingency Plan
http://skylineranch.org/content/filemgr/files/wsc_drought_cont_2009-09-11.pdf
SREWSC Tariff, 2011-05-01
http://skylineranch.org/content/filemgr/files/wsc_tariff_2011-05-01.pdf
Nonetheless, we take this opportunity to encourage water conservation, in light of serious drought conditions in our area that have been noted by the recent HTGCD declaration. Please help conserve this precious resource. Our Drought Stage 1 requests are as follows:
Drought Stage 1 Response
Goal: Achieve a voluntary 10 percent reduction in total water use.
Voluntary Water Use Restrictions: Water customers are requested to practice water conservation and to minimize or discontinue water use for non-essential purposes. Recommended conservation actions are as follows:
Indoor Conservation Measures
- Check for toilet and faucet leaks and repair any found leaks immediately.
- Use water displacement device in toilet tank or replace older model toilets with HET models when possible.
- Install aerators on faucets. Don’t leave faucets running when not in use.
- While waiting for hot water to reach faucet, catch cold water in a container to be reused.
- Never use the toilet to dispose of trash.
- Only run dishwasher with full load.
- Store drinking water in a container in the refrigerator.
- Reduce use of garbage disposal.
- Wash only full loads of laundry.
- Turn off master water shutoff when out of town or on vacation.
- Draw less water for bath or reduce shower time.
- Do not over water houseplants.
Outdoor Conservation Measures
- Comply with 5-day schedule for lawn watering and always only water between 8pm and 8am.
- For Automatic Sprinkler systems:
- check sprinkler heads regularly to prevent clogging;
- adjust to eliminate overspray; and
- adjust run times and frequency monthly to respond to water schedules and changing rainfall and temperature conditions.
- Use hand-held hose, drip irrigation, or soaker hoses for trees, garden, non-turf areas and bedded plants.
- Avoid watering on windy days.
- Cut lawns on highest setting and leave lawn clippings on lawn instead of bagging.
- For hose-end sprinklers – use sprinkler timers to limit water duration.
- Use mulch to conserve soil moisture.
- Limit vehicle washing except when conducted with a bucket or hand-held hose with a positive shutoff during designated watering days and times. If possible, use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
- Wash vehicles over lawn areas where possible.
- Vehicle wash fundraisers should be conducted at a commercial vehicle wash facility using such facilities equipment.
- Keep pools covered when not in use.
- Limit pool filter backwashing to only when necessary.
- No washing of driveways, pavement, or streets.
- Utilize supplemental water sources where possible (e.g. purchased water, collected rainwater, etc.). Supplemental water sources must be isolated from the WSC system per TCEQ regulations.
- Utilize water reuse where possible.
For further details, we encourage you to review the SREWSC Drought Contingency Plan.
SREWSC continues to regularly monitor published levels in the indicator well we use to determine whether additional drought stage measures need to be put in place – the Mt. Baldy well. We will let you know promptly of any further drought stage developments of which you need to be notified.
Best,
Steve Greenberg
President, SREWSC