Water Restrictions For the City of Converse

Current Status of Water Restrictions:

Stage Two Restrictions are in Effect!!

__________________water restrictions are enforced through Ordinance 702- (click here to view)____________________

STAGE II: Aquifer Watch

STAGE II: Aquifer Watch:

Trigger level: As determined by the City Council, or declared by the Edwards Aquifer Authority in consideration of the level of the Edwards Underground Aquifer, spring flow discharge, rainfall, and other such information as deemed appropriate. During drought conditions, Stage II will be triggered when the Edward’s Aquifer Authority determines that the 10-day average for water level at the J-17 well site, Ft. Sam Houston Texas, falls below 650 Feet MSL, or the 10- day average flow for the San Marcos Springs falls below 80 CFS, or the 10- day average flow for the Comal Springs falls below 200 CFS.

Irrigation/Sprinkler Schedule:

Last digit of Address Day

0 or 1 Monday

2 or 3 Tuesday

4 or 5 Wednesday

6 or 7 Thursday

8 or 9 Friday

2. Reduction Goal: 30%.

3. Wasting of water is prohibited.

4. All of the prohibitions applicable in Stage I apply in Stage II

5. Water rates are increased at Stage II as indicated at ANNEX A

6. Mandatory Reduction Measures:

a. Landscape Irrigation:

(1) Existing landscapes:

(a) No person may use underground water for landscape watering on more than two watering days in any calendar week, except that landscape watering is permitted on any day before 10:00 a.m. and after 7:00 p.m. by means of a bucket (not to exceed 5 gallons in capacity), hand-held hose, or properly-installed drip irrigation system. This subsection does not apply to non-potable water, gray water, or treated effluent.

(b) The designated watering days on which people within the City of Converse are allowed to use underground water for landscape watering, in accordance with this section are the same as announced by the City of San Antonio. Watering by any means, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., is prohibited on any day.

(2) New landscapes: Planting of new landscapes is prohibited without prior approval of the City Manager or his designated representative.

Simply put- NO ONE may water their yard with a sprinkler during the DAY between 10am and 8pm any day of the week.

You may follow the Irrigation Schedule to water the yard with a sprinkler at NIGHT between 8pm and 10am.

You may use bucket, hand-held hose, or drip irrigation system on any day between 8pm and 10am)

Reference to the City of San Antonio is for irrigation watering schedule only.

b. Vegetable gardens:

(1) Watering with sprinklers is permitted on designated days only from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m., once every seven days. The designated day shall be the same as announced by the City of San Antonio

(2) Watering with hand-held hoses, buckets or drip irrigation systems is permitted at any time.

c. Swimming pools/hot tubs and similar facilities:

(1) Filling and makeup of existing facilities are permitted.

(2) Filling and makeup for new facilities are prohibited without prior approval of the City Manager or his designated representative.

(3) Draining is prohibited except onto pervious surfaces only.

d. Aesthetic uses: Non-recirculating fountains will be shut off.

e. Other outdoor uses:

(1) Waste is prohibited.

(2) The washing of any impervious surface is prohibited, except for immediate human health, safety and welfare.

(3) Non-commercial washing of automobiles, trucks, trailers, boat, airplanes, and other mobile equipment is permitted on designated days once every seven days only between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. Washing shall be done with a

hand-held hose or bucket. Hand-held hoses shall be equipped with a positive shutoff nozzle.

Simply Put- DO NOT spray down driveway or house.

You may wash your vehicle in your yard only on designated day from the irrigation schedule, it must be done with a bucket and hose with a shut-off nozzle between 8pm and 10 am.

f. Commercial and Industrial Uses:

(1) Washing of automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats airplanes, and other mobile equipment is permitted on the immediate premises of a commercial washing facility.

(2) Commercial nurseries, commercial sod farms and other similar establishments shall restrict watering hours to 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

(3) Restaurants are prohibited from serving water to customers unless specifically requested by the customer.

(4) Voluntary reduction of water use in commercial and industrial processes is recommended.

(5) Demand use reduction measures for all outdoor water uses apply to commercial and industrial users.

g. Domestic use: Voluntary reduction for outdoor domestic use is recommended by any means available.

h. Essential and utility use:

(1) Water utility use:

(a) Reduction of average system pressure to 60 PSI is recommended.

(b) Leak detection and system repairs are recommended.

STAGE 1 - Aquifer Awareness

STAGE 1: Aquifer Awareness:

1. Trigger level: As determined by the City Council, or declared by the Edwards Aquifer Authority in consideration of the level of the Edwards Underground Aquifer, spring flow discharge, rainfall, and other such information as deemed appropriate. . During drought conditions, Stage I will be triggered when the Edward’s Aquifer Authority determines that the 10-day average for water level at the J-17 well site, Ft. Sam Houston Texas, falls below 660 Feet MSL, or the 10- day average flow for the San Marcos Springs falls below 96 CFS, or the 10- day average flow for the Comal Springs falls below 225 CFS.

2. Reduction goal: 20%.

3. Continue on-going education program, coordination activities, special use provision, reuse and recycling program, fire hydrant and line monitoring, and programs with water surveyors and companies.

4. Wasting of water is prohibited.

5. Water Rates are increased as indicated at ANNEX A.

6. Mandatory Reduction Measures:

a. Landscape irrigation:

(1) Landscape watering between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. is prohibited.

(2) Existing or new landscapes:

(a) Watering with sprinklers is recommended from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m., once every seven days.

(b) Watering with hand-held hoses, buckets or drip irrigation systems is permitted at any time.

(d) Non-potable water, gray water, and treated effluent are exempt from reduction measures.

b. Vegetable gardens:

(1) Watering between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. is prohibited.

(2) Watering with sprinkler is recommended from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m., once every seven days.

(3) Watering with hand-held hoses, buckets or drip irrigation systems is permitted at any time.

c. Swimming pools/hot tubs and similar facilities:

(1) Every person who owns or has possession of a swimming pool must cover the pool with an effective evaporation cover or screen when the pool is not in active use between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. "Active use" includes necessary maintenance that requires removal of the cover or screen.

(2) Filling and makeup of new and existing facilities is permitted.

(3) Draining is prohibited except onto pervious surfaces only.

d. Aesthetic uses: Reduction is recommended for inside and outside use. It is recommended that non-recirculating fountains be shut off and that recirculating fountains be operated only during low evaporation periods.

e. Other outdoor use;

(1) Waste is prohibited.

(2) No person may use underground water to wash an impervious outdoor ground covering such as a parking lot, driveway, street, or sidewalk.

(3) No person may wash an automobile, truck, trailer, boat, or other mobile equipment at a residence except on a watering day designated by these rules, and in no event may a person allow underground water from automobile washing at residence escape into the street or otherwise off the person's property. Washing shall be done with a hand-held hose or bucket. Hand-held hoses shall be equipped with a positive shutoff nozzle.

(4) Charity car washes are prohibited except at a commercial car wash that recycles at least 75% of the underground water it uses or that is certified as a recycling car wash by a municipality or other political subdivision.

f. Commercial and industrial uses:

(1) Washing of automobile, trucks, trailers, boats, airplanes, and other mobile equipment is permitted on the immediate premises of a commercial washing facility.

(2) Commercial nurseries, commercial sod farms and other similar establishments are requested to curtail all non-essential water use.

(3) Restaurants and other eating establishments are prohibited from serving underground water to customers except upon request of the customer.

(4) Voluntary reduction of water use in commercial and industrial processes is recommended.

(5) Demand use reduction measures for all outdoor water uses apply to commercial and industrial users.

g. Domestic use: Voluntary reduction for indoor domestic use is recommended by any means available.

h. Essential and utility use:

(1) Water utility use:

(a) Reduction of average system pressure to 60 PSI is recommended.

(b) Leak detection and system repairs is recommended.

Stage I restrictions continue until there is an announcement in the newspaper that Stage I has been canceled or that Stage II is in effect.

For Questions, please call Converse Water Department at 658-3453, or City Hall at 658-1965