NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – Summer heat and increased water usage in New Braunfels have taken a toll on the Edwards Aquifer, prompting utility officials to declare Stage 1 water restrictions.
The restrictions go in effect Tuesday, New Braunfels Utilities environmental affairs manager Suzanne Williams said.
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Stage 1 is declared after the aquifer drops below the trigger level of 660 feet for 24 hours, Williams said.
During Stage 1 water restrictions, residential and commercial customers are only allowed to use a sprinkler or irrigation system for landscape watering before 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m. one day per week based on the last digit of their address.
Addresses that end with 0 or 1 are allowed to water Monday; 2 or 3 on Tuesday; 4 or 5 on Wednesday; 6 or 7 on Thursday and 8 or 9 on Friday.
Watering with a hand-held hose, bucket, soaker hose or a drip irrigation system is allowed anytime during Stage 1, Williams said.
The ordinance prohibits outdoor fountains and waterfalls, requires a variance confirmation from NBU Environmental Affairs Division for watering new landscaping and limits vehicle washing at home to watering days and times over an impervious surface.
"We ask that customers be attentive with their landscape watering to ensure that they are not watering outside the allowable times and that they are not creating water waste, which can lead to citations or fines," Williams said. "By observing the current water requirements, we will be able to manage through this dry period and any agency mandated reductions with our current, less expensive water supply."
The latest watering information can be accessed 24 hours a day by calling the NBU Water Hotline at 830-608-8925 or by visiting the NBU website.
New Braunfels can also enter Stage 1 when the rate of the Comal Springs is at or below 225 cubic feet per second for a 24-hour period. The spring flow was 313 cfs on Monday.