San Marcos to enter stage 1 drought restrictions

Staff Reports

Due to dropping aquifer levels, the City of San Marcos will enter Stage 1 drought restrictions effective Sunday, April 4 at noon. Stage 1 is implemented when the 10-day average Edwards Aquifer index well level falls below 660 feet above mean sea level (msl).  On Tuesday, March 30 the 10-day average aquifer level was at 658.9 feet and the daily reading was 658.2 feet.    

“We ended 2020 well below average annual rainfall and are already several inches below-average rainfall for this year,” said Director of Public Services, Tom Taggart.  “These dry conditions are expected to continue through the summer so it’s very important that we do everything we can to conserve our precious water resources.”   

Stage 1 drought restrictions limit use of sprinklers to one day per week on a designated weekday determined by address.  Irrigation using hose-end sprinklers is allowed on the designated weekday before 10 a.m. or after 8 p.m.  Irrigation with automatic irrigation systems is allowed on the designated weekday beginning at 8 p.m. and ending the following morning at 8 a.m.   

Hand watering and using soaker hoses or drip irrigation is allowed on any day and at any time.   

Stage 1 rules also limit at-home car washing, washing of impervious surfaces and foundation watering to one day per week.  Wasting water is prohibited.   

The full text of Stage 1 rules may be found on the City of San Marcos website at www.sanmarcostx.gov/drought. For more information call 512-393-8310.