The backstory
According to the Woodlands Water Agency, all homes and businesses in The Woodlands in Montgomery County follow a Defined Irrigation Schedule, which limits automatic irrigation systems to two nights a week. The WWA is the central management agency for the 10 municipal utility districts in The Woodlands in Montgomery County. The DIS has been in effect continuously since 2013 and has not changed as a result of the drought, according to a news release from the WWA.
According to the DIS:
- Addresses ending in an odd number may water from 8 p.m. Tuesdays through 6 a.m. Wednesdays and from 8 p.m. Saturdays to 6 a.m. Saturdays.
- Addresses ending in an even number, including zero, may water from 8 p.m. Wednesdays through 6 a.m. Thursdays and from 8 p.m. Saturdays through 6 a.m. Sundays.
- Drip irritation and watering by hose are exempted from the DIS and can be performed at any time.
As of Sept. 25, the Texas Drought Monitor shows south Montgomery County is in Exceptional Drought status, the highest level of drought tracked by the agency, and the rest of the county is in Extreme Drought conditions.
According to a Sept. 21 news release from the WWA, The Woodlands had received 5 inches of precipitation in the previous 90-day period, which was 50% below the historical average.
The outlook
According to the WWA news release, recent projections from the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center show that normal precipitation levels should return in the fall and winter.
However, heightened restrictions are possible if the drought continues, according to the release.
According to the WWA, less frequent but deep watering is beneficial for lawns. One inch of water per week—about 20-35 minutes of sprinkler run time per night—will provide that, according to the WWA.
