As of June 29, Frisco residents are now restricted to outdoor sprinkler system watering once every two weeks.
The Frisco City Council made the decision at an early June meeting at the urging of the North Texas Municipal Water District.
Denise Hickey, NTMWD, public relations and water conservation manager, said Frisco is not alone in the modified restrictions—all cities within the district either have already adopted or are in the process of implementing the once every two weeks watering limits.
Since Stage 3 restrictions were put in place June 2013, the city of Frisco has exceeded the district's water usage reduction goal of 10 percent. Frisco is saving about 20 percent more water than it was before the restrictions were put in place.
However, district-wide the cities are only saving about 10.9 percent—well below the 15-20 percent savings district officials say is needed through the summer to avoid stricter Stage 4 restrictions.
Modified restrictions
Under the modified Stage 3 restrictions, the Frisco is allowing residents to water turf grass and landscaping by hand up to two hours per day except between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. "Smart" irrigation systems using evapotranspiration controllers must also comply with once every two week restrictions.
Frisco's existing administrative fee schedule for watering violations will remain the same. A first-time Stage 3 violation results in immediate disconnection of the sprinkler system and a red sign being placed in the yard, noting the violation. A $25 administrative fee will be applied to the first-time violator's next water bill. The fee may be waived if residents complete a free irrigation check-up. Additional violations result in higher fees: $50 for a second violation and $75 for a third violation, including a citation. Violators will need to call Frisco Public Works at 972-292-5800 to have their outdoor watering system reactivated.
The city is asking residents to turn their sprinkler systems off, and only water when needed. Using the city's weather station and rain gauges, so far in 2014 the city has recommended turning sprinkler systems on only twice.
Residents can visit the city's water website, www.friscotexas.gov/water for weekly watering recommendations that are published every Monday as well as a map of when watering is allowed in each section of the city. Residents can also sign up on the website to have those watering recommendations emailed every week in the city's WaterWise newsletter.
