Once-a-Week Watering is Permitted…but the drought continues
Panel discussion on Water: Wednesday, September 10, 2014
In an August 28, 2014, news release, the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) announced that it “is recommending its Member Cities and customers to allow landscape watering once a week … through the end of October 2014.”
(from the City of Richardson (COR) website www.cor.net ) “The NTMWD requires regular flow of water in order to ensure consistent chlorine levels remain in accordance with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality standards. Chlorine levels decrease when water remains in the system for too long and is exposed to high temperatures.” (from the NTMWD news release) “To improve the circulation and increase the water flow within the water systems, allowance of once per week watering with sprinkler or irrigation systems will assist in maintaining the required chlorine residuals.”
Even though the Stage 3 water restrictions have been relaxed for September and October, Lake Lavon remains almost 12 feet below its normal elevation. The “once-per-week watering allowance should only decrease Lavon Lake’s elevation by less than 2 feet and still not require initiation of Stage 4.” (from the NTMWD website www.ntmwd.com )
The League of Women Voters of Richardson and the Richardson Environmental Action League are sponsoring a panel discussion on water on Wednesday, September 10, 2014. This is a free public meeting.
- Light refreshments will be served at 6:30pm.
- The panel discussion begins at 7pm
In the Parks Room
Richardson Civic Center
411 W. Arapaho Road
Richardson 75080.
Panelists are:
ü Don Magner Assistant City Manager, City of Richardson
ü Clint Wolfe Program Manager Unban Water, Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center at Dallas
ü Mike Rickman Deputy Director, North Texas Municipal Water District
From the City of Richardson website:
Richardson announces once per week outdoor irrigation schedule following NTMWD action
The City of Richardson has adopted a once per week outdoor irrigation schedule for water customers effective Sunday, August 31 to October 31, 2014. The change follows North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) board action Thursday night to increase water use in order to maintain water quality within its service system.
The NTMWD requires regular flow of water in order to ensure consistent chlorine levels remain in accordance with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality standards. Chlorine levels decrease when water remains in the system for too long and is exposed to high temperatures. Richardson’s system is performing well within safety parameters, but will benefit from the once per week schedule. City staff will continue to monitor and test water quality within the system and will assess whether hydrant flushing becomes necessary.
While conservation measures are being alleviated to ensure quality, conservation efforts will still be necessary for the foreseeable future. The NTMWD has given direction that it expects to readopt every other week watering again in November.
From the North Texas Municipal Water District website:
www.ntmwd.com
Lake Lavon is currently at elevation 480.27’ and the once-per-week watering allowance should only decrease Lavon Lake’s elevation by less than 2 feet and still not require initiation of Stage 4.
Reservoir Elevations
as of September 2, 2014
from the North Texas Municipal Water District website: www.ntmwd.com
|
Supply
Reservoir
|
Conservation Pool
Elevation
|
Current Elevation
(msl)
|
Down
|
Provides % of NTMWD Supply
|
|
Lavon Lake
|
492.00'
|
480.09'
|
-11.91'
|
30%
|
|
Jim Chapman Lake
|
440.00'
|
430.09'
|
-9.91'
|
15%
|
|
Lake Tawakoni
|
437.50'
|
427.18'
|
-10.32'
|
8%
|
|
Lake Texoma
|
617.00'
|
611.44'
|
-5.56'
|
28%
|