Stage 2 Water Restrictions In Effect

SAN ANTONIO -- San Antonio is under Stage 2 drought restrictions, City Manager Sheryl Sculley announced Monday.

"As city manager, I am authorized to declare Stage 2 of the Aquifer Drought Management Plan in effect," Sculley said in a news release.

Sculley's announcement was made after the J-17 Edwards Aquifer monitoring well near Fort Sam Houston dropped to 649.6 feet on Saturday, San Antonio Water Systems officials said. The trigger level for Stage 2 is 650 feet.

The biggest effect Stage 2 will have on residents and businesses is that they will only be allowed to water once per week.

Watering with a sprinkler, soaker hose or irrigation system is allowed between 3 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on a designated day, as determined by the last number of the street address:

0 or 1, Monday

2 or 3, Tuesday

4 or 5, Wednesday

6 or 7, Thursday

8 or 9, Friday

Watering with a handheld hose is still allowed at any time on any day, but overnight watering is not allowed.

Greg Flores, SAWS vice president of public affairs, said that residents shouldn't be concerned that less watering will mean the death of their lawns.

"It's OK to let our lawns get a little brown, they'll survive," said Greg Flores, SAWS vice president of public affairs.

SAWS issued 400 tickets to people caught breaking Stage 1 restrictions, said SAWS Conservation Director Karen Guz.

Stage 2 drought restrictions are also in effect for customers of the BexarMet Water District and the Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District.

During Stage 2, state law mandates that pumpers reduce the amount of water they pump from the aquifer by 30 percent.