In a nutshell
Freese and Nichols, an infrastructure consulting and engineering firm, presented proposed drought contingency plan updates at an April 16 City Council meeting. The plan is now under review by council, which will provide further recommendations to the plan before it’s adopted in late May.
The background
Seeing little rain and high temperatures, the summer drought impacted the Fulshear area from May to September. This highlighted the need for water conservation, as many residents didn’t heed to the city’s water restrictions, Public Works Project Manager Morgan Early said in an email.
“Most of the community continued to irrigate to try to save landscaping and vegetation, compounding the demand on the city's water system,” Early said. “We had many residents and [homeowner associations] that used very high amounts of water during this time and were hesitant to conserve.”
Zooming in
The proposed plan brings changes to the different stages of drought declarations, including:
- Stage 2: added a water surcharge; allows outdoor watering once per week and prohibits permitting of private pools
- Stage 3: prohibits installing new landscaping, outdoor watering, operating interactive water features; allows the city manager to require water usage reduction of commercial customers
- Removal of Stage 4
What’s different?
Freese and Nichols representative Adam Conner said important updates to the plan include:
- A more public-facing document
- Re-evaluated drought triggers: added a three-day measurement for water demand and amount of remaining water storage
- Addition of fines for conservation violators
Why it matters
The drought plan will help the city establish standards ensuring that the community will adhere to water conservation, Early said.
“Addressing drought concerns with effective plans that are enforceable and stringent enough to help water users understand the need to conserve water are key,” Early said. “Ultimately, water conservation is the key to ensuring successful water management.”
If water shortages threaten the public health, safety or welfare, the city manager can limit the allotment of water per single-family home to 8,000 gallons per month with a $1 charge for each additional 1,000 gallons used, according to the proposed plan.
Violators of defined drought restrictions can also be fined per violation, including:
- First violation: warning
- Second violation: $100 administrative fee
- Third violation: $200 administrative fee
- Fourth and subsequent violations: $300 per violation
The proposed plan will be discussed at a City Council special meeting May 14, where council can provide final recommendations for staff. The plan will then be on the May 21 council meeting agenda for adoption where, if approved, it will become effective on the first day of ordinance publication, Early said.
