By contract the Water District is required to adopt a Water Conservation Plan and a Drought Contingency Plan that is consistent with plans adopted by the City of Corpus Christi, manager of the regional water supply. These 2013 plans are intended to help ensure the region's water security and to strive to see that all customers are treated equitably across the seven counties that rely on the region's reservoir system.

The plans set out how water use restrictions will be triggered and how they will apply to customers. This includes five stages of restrictions based on the amount of water in storage in the region's reservoir system. The Coastal Bend Region has been under mandatory Stage 2 drought restrictions since December 2012. The City of Corpus Christi revised their plan with more restrictive rules which became effective in June.

The Water District held a public hearing July 23rd to receive comments and the Board of Directors voted August 13 to adopt revised plans that apply to all District customers. Full copies of these SPMWD plans can be downloaded here:

2013 Drought Contingency Plan (1.3 MB)

2013 Water Conservation Plan (4.7 MB)

These plans include new, more aggressive efforts to expand water conservation and reduce unnecessary water uses. By contract each of the cities and water suppliers buying water from the District must have plans that are at least as restrictive as those adopted by the District and the City of Corpus Christi. District customers include the cities of Odem, Taft, Gregory, Portland, Ingleside, Aransas Pass, Rockport and Port Aransas, plus industrial customers, Rincon Water Supply Corp. and Seaboard Water Supply Corp.

DIRECTORS URGE COMPLIANCE

In adopting the plans members of the Water District board urged industrial and residential customers to do their part in saving water. They encouraged cities to ramp up public education and enforcement.

General Manager Brian Williams informed the board that the staff is moving forward with an audit of large industrial water users to report on steps they have taken to reduce water use and to look for possible additional conservation measures. He noted that industry is receptive and has been doing its part in minimizing water use.

PERMANENT CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS

The revised 2013 Water Conservation Plan includes new mandatory water use restrictions that are in effect permanently into the future at all times, regardless of lake levels or drought contingency levels. They are designed to reduce activities which are deemed to be wasteful and unnecessary. Public water systems are required to enforce these rules at all times. They include:

>> Use of lawn sprinklers for irrigation between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. is prohibited.
>> No person shall allow water to run off property into gutters or streets.
>> No person shall allow water to flow constantly through a tap, hydrant or valve.
>> Defective plumbing resulting in water loss must be repaired.
>> No person shall use any non-recycling decorative water fountain.
>> An irrigation system cannot operate at water pressures that cause misting.
>> Restaurants must only serve water upon request.

MANDATORY STAGE 2 RESTRICTIONS (Moderate Water Shortage)

Mandatory Stage 2 restrictions were triggered when the combined levels of Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Reservoir (LCC/CCR System) dropped below 40% of storage capacity. By mid-August total capacity was below 34%. Stage 3 would be triggered if water in storage drops below 30%. Stage 4 would be triggered at 20% of reservoir capacity and would be considered CRITICAL Water Shortage Conditions. Stage 5 would be an extreme emergency.

The following are some of the water use restrictions in effect during Stage 2:

1. Irrigation of landscaped areas with hose-end sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems shall be limited to once per week and is prohibited between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.  The designated watering day for each residence is determined by the local city or water provider. For all San Patricio Municipal Water District direct retail customers the designated day is Saturday.  However, irrigation of landscaped areas is permitted on any day if it is by means of a hand-held hose with positive shut-off nozzle, a faucet filled bucket or watering can of five gallons or less, or a drip irrigation system with a positive shut-off device.  Customers irrigating with an irrigation well should provide a legible sign prominently posted on the premises within two feet of the street number located on the premises. 

2. Use of water to wash a motor vehicle, motorbike, boat, trailer, or other vehicle is prohibited except on the designated watering day for that residence or business.  However, washing of boats/and or flushing of boat motors is permitted upon immediate exit of a water body.  Vehicle washing may be done at any time at the premises of a commercial car wash.  

3. Use of water to fill, refill or add to any indoor or outdoor swimming pools, wading pools, or Jacuzzi-type pools is prohibited except on your designated watering day.

4. The use of water to maintain the integrity of building foundations is only permitted by use of a hand held hose or drip irrigation.

5.  The following uses of water are defined as non-essential and are prohibited:
>>Wash-down of any sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts, or other hard-surfaced areas;
>>Use of water to wash down buildings or structures for purposes other than immediate fire protection unless a permit has been issued by the Water District;
>>Use of water for dust control without permit granted by the appropriate public water provider.

Each city government or water provider may impose additional restrictions and is responsible for notifying customers and for enforcement. Various enforcement mechanisms are being used including the potential for disconnecting water service for repeat offenders.

STAGE 3 RESTRICTIONS

If there is no substantial rainfall in the coming weeks it is projected that Stage 3 will be triggered before the end of 2013 (below 30% of capacity). Additional water use restrictions will be activated at that point including a designated outdoor water use day of only once every two weeks instead of once per week.

If drought conditions continue at the current intensity through the next year it is possible that a Stage 4 critical water shortage will be triggered in the fall of 2014.