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Mayor Orders Mandatory Water Conservation

The drought that has plunged more than 78 percent of Texas in an extreme drought has forced Mayor Annise Parker to order mandatory water conservation in the city.

Lake Houston, which provides water for the city, has continued to fall.  Parker today mandated the implementation of the City of Houston Stage Two Water Conservation Measures.

During Stage Two of the conservation plan, customers are required to repair all detectable leaks within 72 hours of discovery and think conservatively when watering outside plants and lawns.

Residents are also now limited in their water usage when watering plants.

–Only water between 8:00 p.m. and 10 a.m. two days a week, according to the following schedule:
–Sundays and Thursdays for customers with even-numbered street addresses
–Saturdays and Wednesdays for customers with odd-numbered street addresses

Failure to follow the mandate may result in fines.
The City itself will also take internal water conservation measures, such as:

–Suspension of any scheduled window washing
–Suspension of any scheduled power washing of buildings, sidewalks and parking areas
–Discontinue washing city vehicles or equipment except for health, safety or critical maintenance reasons
–Order an audit of all irrigation systems for leaks to ensure proper operation of timers and sprinkler heads.

The Public Works Department website has a Daily Water Supply Monitor at dwsm.publicworks.houstontx.gov/watergauges and continues to encourage residents to use water wisely, which will  reduce the large demand on the city’s water system.

The city has provided a list of the following ways to conserve water:

–Keep shower use to under five minutes
–Turn water off while brushing your teeth
–Wash only full loads of dishes or clothes
–Replace older-model showerheads and faucet aerators with new low-flow models and install low water use toilets
–Inspect toilets for silent leaks by putting food coloring in the toilet tank. If colored water leaks into the toilet bowl before flushing, water is being lost due to a worn flapper
–Refrain from washing any vehicle or motorbike unless the dirt poses a driving hazard
–Refrain from washing down any sidewalk, walkway, driveway, parking lot or any other hard-surfaced area
–Refrain from filling, refilling or adding water to any indoor or outdoor swimming pool, spa or whirlpool.

For more information on the conservation order and for more tips, visit www.publicworks.houstontx.gov/utilities/conservation.html

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