The Brown County Water Improvement District #1 has declared Stage 2 drought conditions
The Brown County Water Improvement District #1 has declared Stage 2 drought conditions due to the current water level of Lake Brownwood. In compliance with the Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan, the City of Brownwood has published the following watering schedules:
Drought Stage 2: Moderate – Mandatory Compliance
Odd addresses can water on Monday and Thursday from midnight to 9 a.m. and from 7 p.m. to midnight. Even addresses can water on Tuesday and Friday from midnight to 9 a.m. and from 7 p.m. to midnight.
The goal of the Stage 2 response is to achieve a 15% reduction in total water use. Customers are required to follow to the City of Brownwood’s 2-day/week watering schedule. Water customers are requested to continue to practice water conservation and to minimize or discontinue water use for non-essential or discretionary purposes. Customers may water potted plants and landscapes at any time with a watering can or handheld hose with automatic shutoff nozzle.
The City of Brownwood will also initiate a 50% reduction in irrigation of City parks and institutional landscapes.
The City of Brownwood watering schedule applies to all residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional accounts, including athletic fields. Due to game scheduling conflicts, athletic field managers may modify the approved watering days by submitting a request in writing to the City Manager or designee. During times when this Drought Contingency Plan is in effect, it is a violation of this plan for any person, firm, corporation, or entity to irrigate landscapes between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.
General Water Conservation Tips
Customers are encouraged to reduce their water usage as much as possible. Try following a few of the following tips:
- About 50 percent of water used outdoors is wasted due to improper installation, maintenance, and use of watering systems. To make sure you get the most out of watering your lawn and garden, have your system inspected each year by a licensed irrigator to ensure proper operation.
- Install inexpensive faucet aerators to cut in half the amount of water used by each faucet.
- Check your faucets, and fix any leak you find. Faucet leaks can waste up to 3,000 gallons of water a year.
- Test your toilet for leaks; a leaking toilet can waste up to 73,000 gallons of water a year. To test, add a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet to the water in the tank, but do not flush the toilet. Watch to see if the coloring appears in the bowl within a few minutes. If it does, the toilet has a silent leak that needs to be repaired.
- Look for water-efficient models when replacing plumbing fixtures or appliances. A water-efficient clothes washer uses 50 percent less water than a conventional model. Water-efficient plumbing fixtures can reduce water use by 25 to 60 percent.