Updates to Richardson's plan to conserve water were approved April 15 by council.

The city's Water Conservation and Resource Management Plan is a living document that includes ongoing, long-term measures to save water and also short-term saving plans in the event of drought or emergency. State law requires that the plan be updated every five years.

Deputy City Manager Don Magner said during his presentation to council that the city has coordinated with the North Texas Municipal Water District to review the current plan and identify areas of improvement. Certain housekeeping items, such as updates to reflect the 2018-19 water rate structure and information about new legal requirements, are included in the update, Magner said.

Also included in the update are revised 5- and 10-year goals for water use. The city will aim to reduce water use to 229 gallons per capita per day by 2024 and 218 gallons per capita per day by 2029, according to the plan.

Certain optional conservation items from the policy section of the document have been moved to the education section, especially those surrounding hotels, restaurants and bars, Magner said.

Guidelines for landscape watering are also outlined in the plan. The amount of water permissible for lawn watering ranges from zero to two times per week, depending on Lake Lavon levels as well as the time of year, according to the plan.

The city is required to submit its finalized plan to the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality, the water district, the Texas Water Development Board, and regional water groups by April 20. The final plan will be posted online for the public by May 1.