San Marcos Returns To Stage 2 Drought Restrictions

San Marcos Returns To Stage 2 Drought Restrictions 

Thanks to recent rainfall and lower winter-time water demands, the City of San Marcos is returning to Stage 2 drought restrictions effective Sunday, Feb. 1 at noon.  The Edwards Aquifer Authority returned to Stage 2 on Jan. 28.  While the City is relaxing water restrictions, officials encourage residents to be mindful when using one of our most valuable resources.

“It is advisable that residents continue to conserve water” said Tom Taggart, Executive Director of City of San Marcos Public Services.  “Both ground and surface water sources remain below average for this time of year.”

Stage 2 of the City’s Drought Response Ordinance sets the following restrictions:

• The use of hose-end sprinklers is limited to one day per week on a designated weekday before 10 a.m. or after 8 p.m.

• Irrigation with automatic sprinkler irrigation systems is allowed once per week between the hours of 8 p.m. on the designated weekday and 8 a.m. on the following day.

• Hand watering and soaker hoses or drip irrigation is allowed on any day before 10 a.m. or after 8 p.m.

• Limits at-home car washing to one day per week, and prohibit water waste, filling new pools, using outdoor decorative water features, and washing impervious surfaces.

• All other non-essential water use is prohibited.

Violators could face fines up to $1000 a day for each offense.  Full text of the Stage 2 rules can be found on the City of San Marcos website at www.sanmarcostx.gov/drought.

San Marcos has been in drought restrictions almost continuously since April 2011, and was in Stage 2 or higher for all of 2014.  The City began 2014 in Stage 2 restrictions and progressed to Stage 3 in April.  Dry conditions prompted the City to go to Stage 4 restrictions for the first time ever in August 2014.  The City remained in Stage 4 for several months then returned to Stage 3 in November, where it has remained until this time.

Stage 2 is implemented when the 10-day average Edwards Aquifer index well level falls below 650 feet above mean sea level (msl), or when it rises above the Stage 2 level of 640 feet above msl.  On Friday, January 30 the 10 day average aquifer level was at 643.7 feet, and the daily reading was 644.5 feet.