As the summer heat approaches, Missouri City officials are working to combat drought through the city’s drought contingency plan.

Missouri City City Council approved changes to the plan at a March 17 meeting, including adding conservation triggers and restrictions for residential and commercial properties.

The details

The new drought contingency plan covers the larger groundwater reduction plan area, which includes properties south of Hwy. 6 in and outside of city limits, such as Sienna and Riverstone, according to the presentation.

The previous plan pertained mostly to properties north of Hwy. 6 serviced by the Mustang Bayou groundwater treatment plants, Assistant Utilities Director Nicholas Cook said in an email.


The plan also creates separate triggers for surface water and groundwater usage, meaning that triggers for each water supplier will be evaluated on an individual demand basis, according to agenda documents.
In Stages 3 and 4, landscape or golf irrigation, pool filling and vehicle washing will be restricted, while water use for aesthetics, dust control, and pavement or gutter washing is prohibited, per the updated plan. In Stage 4, all non-essential water use is prohibited.

Additionally, the plan creates uniform watering times during Stages 2 and 3, with watering only allowed between 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on assigned days for customers and no watering on Fridays, according to agenda documents. Assigned days include:
  • Even addresses on Wednesdays and Sundays
  • Odd addresses on Tuesdays and Saturdays
  • All other customers on Mondays and Thursdays
The drought contingency plan was last updated in May 2019, Cook said.

Why it matters

Cook said the plan is designed to ensure water is available for all users in times when availability is challenging.


“Every summer poses a threat to the water availability in Texas,” he said. “We watch the reservoir levels, withdrawal rates and precipitation to estimate potential issues. Staff cannot predict water availability for the summer, but plans are put in place prior to any issues so all parties can make accommodations and prepare themselves to meet the requirements.”

What else?

Municipal utility districts will also need to update their plans to include reference to the city plan, Cook said. Each MUD is also required to have its own plan for individual situations.

“Having their own plan also allows the system to have a plan for their specific situation,” he said. “For example, if a water main breaks and a need for a reduction of water use specific to a single MUD is needed, the drought contingency plan provides the mechanism for the MUD to do that through voluntary or required reductions in use.”


Looking ahead

With its approval at the March 17 City Council meeting, the new drought contingency plan is now in effect for Missouri City.