Drought Management Plan

County Line SUD currently pumps water from the Edwards Aquifer. The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) is charged by the State of Texas to manage pumpage from the aquifer in order to maintain certain spring flows from the Comal and San Marcos Springs.

The level of the aquifer is determined by measuring the water level in a well designated as J-17. As the level (feet to sea level) in this well declines or increases, the EAA will issue Drought Stages that must be followed by all municipal pumpers. These stages will be announced in the Onion Creek Free Press, any San Antonio news source, and will follow those instituted by the city of Kyle. It must be noted that those stages talked about by Austin news sources are not the same as those which County Line SUD will follow because of the difference in the source of the water.

STAGE I (at or below 650ft.)

GOAL: Achieve a voluntary 20 percent reduction in water use.

  • Water customers are requested to voluntarily limit the irrigation of landscaped areas to Tuesdays and Fridays for customers with a street address ending in an even number and Mondays and Thursdays for customers with an address ending in an odd number, and to irrigate lawns only between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on designated watering days.
  • Water customers are requested to practice water conservation and to minimize or discontinue water use for non-essential purposes.

STAGE II

GOAL: Achieve a 30 percent reduction in water use.

  • Irrigation of lawns with hose end sprinklers, automatic or drip irrigation systems shall be limited to the same times as in Stage I.
  • Use of water for the washing of vehicles or buildings is restricted to designated watering days and times.
  • Operation of ornamental fountains is prohibited.
  • Use of water for swimming pools, wading pools, or Jacuzzi-type pools, is restricted to designated watering days and times.
  • Use of water for dust prevention, washing sidewalks and driveways, or other hard surface areas is prohibited.
  • Use of water from the fire hydrants shall be restricted to health and safety use. Water for construction purposes will be by special permit only.

STAGE III

GOAL: Achieve a 40 percent reduction in water use.

  • Irrigation of lawn areas will be limited to designated days and times and will be done by hand-held bucket or drip irrigation system.
  • The use of water for construction purposes will be discontinued.

STAGE IV

GOAL: Achieve a 50 percent reduction in water use.

  • Irrigation of lawn areas will be limited to designated days and times and will be done by hand-held bucket or drip irrigation system.
  • The use of water to wash any motor vehicle, motorbike, boat, trailer, or other vehicle not occurring on the premises of a commercial car wash and commercial service stations and not in immediate interest of public health, safety, and welfare is prohibited. Further, such vehicle washing at commercial car washes and service stations shall occur only between the hours of 6:00 am and 10:00 am and between 6:00pm and 10:00 pm.
  • The filling, refilling, or adding of water to swimming pools, wading pools, and Jacuzzi-type pools is prohibited.
  • Operation of any ornamental fountain or pond for aesthetic or scenic purposes is prohibited except where necessary to support aquatic life or where such fountains or ponds are equipped with a recirculation system.
  • No application for new, additional, expanded, or increased-in-size water service connections, meters, service lines, pipeline extensions, mains, or water service facilities of any kind shall be approved, and time limits for approval of such applications are hereby suspended for such time as this drought response stage or a higher-numbered stage shall be in effect.