The local drought Houston has been experiencing finally has reached the point where Mayor Parker has invoked ordinances dealing with water conservation.
Sighting falling water levels in Lake Houston, the city’s primary reservoir, the order calls for Stage Two conservation measures. These specifically call on Houston water customers to:
- Repair all detectable leaks within 72 hours of discovery and
- Limit outdoor irrigation to the hours between 8:00 p.m. and 10 a.m. on NO more than two days per week according to the following schedule:
- Sundays and Thursdays for customers with even-numbered street addresses
- Saturdays and Wednesdays for customers with odd-numbered street addresses
Failure to follow requirements may result in fines.
“While these restrictions are mandatory, we will begin with warnings and an informational campaign because the goal is voluntary compliance,” said Mayor Parker. “For those who insist on not being good neighbors, citations will follow.”
To help preserve water, the mayor further outlines actions the city itself is taking, plus outlines some actions for home users to integrate into their day. These include…
- Keep showers under five minutes
- Turn water off while brushing your teeth
- Wash only full loads of dishes or clothes
- Replace older model showerheads and faucet aerators with new low-flow models and install low water use toilets
- Inspect toilets for silent leaks by putting food coloring in the toilet tank. If colored water leaks into the toilet bowl before flushing, water is being lost due to a worn flapper
- Refrain from washing any vehicle or motorbike unless the dirt poses a driving hazard
- Refrain from washing down any sidewalk, walkway, driveway, parking lot or any other hard-surfaced area
- Refrain from filling, refilling or adding water to any indoor or outdoor swimming pool, spa or whirlpool.