Tyler Continues Mandatory Water Restrictions
Posted/updated on: March 8, 2012 at 3:35 pm
TYLER — The City of Tyler is reminding citizens that the mandatory water restrictions implemented in December are still in effect. “Although the City has had some precipitation in the last few months, it has not been enough to refill our reservoirs,” said Water Utilities Managing Director Greg Morgan. “We feel that because of the dry weather conditions we have been experiencing in the last year and the predictions of a dry summer in the upcoming year, it is in the best interest of Tyler’s long term planning efforts to continue with the water restrictions at this time.” Lake Tyler is currently 4.58 feet below spillway levels and Lake Palestine is 2.54 feet low.
Step Two drought measures call for mandatory water conservation measures to prohibit water waste. Water waste is defined as washing house windows, sidings, eaves and roof with a hose (without the use of a bucket); washing driveways, streets, curbs and gutters, washing vehicles without a cut-off valve and bucket; unattended sprinkling of landscape shrubs and grass; and filling of swimming pools.
Outdoor water usage, such as irrigation of landscaped areas, is limited to Sundays and Thursdays for customers with a street address ending in an even number (0,2,4,6,8) or Saturdays and Wednesdays for water customers with a street address ending in an odd number (1,3,5,7,9). Additionally, irrigation should be done between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Use of hand-held hoses, watering cans and drip systems for irrigation may be done at any time.
The goal of the Step Two drought measures is to reduce water consumption by 10 percent. “I encourage residents to check the settings on their automatic sprinkler systems to ensure they are in compliance with the restrictions,” added Morgan.
The City has received many phone calls from citizens who have observed other residents and businesses violating the terms of the restrictions. The Water Department will be sending educational letters to violators, requesting compliance with the restrictions. Those who continue to water outside of the prescribed parameters could be subject to citation. The City implemented Stage One drought measures in early October of this year which called for voluntary restrictions of residential water use. Then on December 13, Stage Two drought measures were implemented.
