The new enforcement changes passed unanimously at the regular City Council meeting Jan. 6.
The gist
The city will now be able to add fines or physically lock sprinkler systems if local businesses or other commercial customers like HOA-owned irrigation break water conservation rules or cause excessive flooding or damage, according to city documents.
The new rules also mean customers will see increasing administrative fees applied to their monthly billing cycle when violating water conservation rules. Before the new regulations, Keller customers typically received a citation below $500 for each day of violation.
Hannah Smith, the Environmental Services Specialist at the city’s Public Works Department, provided a presentation about the changes at the meeting Jan. 6. She said regulations for water conservation will otherwise stay the same.
The city of Keller is required to approve the new enforcement rule as one of 33 wholesale water customers with the city of Fort Worth, Smith said.
Zooming in
The city of Fort Worth modified its code to a progressive enforcement process Nov. 11, Smith said. The new process uses Advanced Metering Infrastructure, or AMI, data to assess violations and assess administrative fees.
“The short-term conservation goal which Fort Worth has tasked us with is a focused effort on getting commercial demand off of peak residential watering days to alleviate strain on the system,” Smith said.
Currently, commercial properties are allowed to water on Tuesdays and Fridays, Smith said. Residency addresses ending in even numbers water on Wednesdays and Saturdays while those ending in odd numbers water on Thursdays and Sundays. Other details about city water restrictions can be found on the city website.
Smith said the region is expecting a significant demand increase for water with the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer. Irrigation-only meters will be primarily targeted, she said.
Customers are encouraged to sign up to Keller's water bill app that launched last summer.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the new penalties will focus on businesses and not residents.
