Important Information
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Drought Contingency Plan
All Water Customers
Irrigation of landscaped areas with hose-end sprinklers, automatic irrigation systems, drip irrigation, soaker hoses and hand watering is limited to no more than twice per week according to the MANDATORY schedule. No watering is allowed on Mondays, Tuesdays or Fridays and watering is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on the allowed watering days during Stage 1.
Apartments, office building complexes or other property containing multiple addresses may be identified by the lowest address number.
Frequently-Asked Questions
Q: What Drought Stage is Dallas in?
A: Stage 1 was initiated on December 12, 2011. Although our reservoirs are less than 25% depleted, other factors have developed that make it prudent to initiate our Drought Contingency Plan before the lakes are depleted to the level recommended in the Plan.
Q: Why are we going in to Stage 1 of our Drought Plan?
A: Meteorologists and climatologists are currently predicting that the drought will continue at least through summer 2012. Without significant rain, our reservoirs will continue to be depleted through consumption and evaporation. Going into Stage 1 will extend our available water supply which will be needed to support of the overall regional needs. Currently, North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) went into Stage 3 on November 1, 2011 due to the severe impact of the drought and limited access to their available supply. We are in discussions with NTMWD and others to provide emergency water if conditions worsen. Additionally, construction has begun at one of our water treatment plants which will temporarily reduce our treatment capacity. Going into Stage 1 on December 12 will help to manage all these factors.
Q: What is required in Stage 1?
A: There are several strategies in Stage 1, but the most significant is the mandatory watering schedule above which allows landscape watering of any kind only twice per week. Experts agree that this is more than enough water to maintain a landscape, even in summer. Since we are going into cooler weather, landscapes need even less water. When our grass goes dormant for the winter, it only needs one inch of water per month.
All landscape watering is prohibited for any day or time outside of the Stage 1 mandatory schedule. This restriction includes automatic sprinklers, hose end sprinklers, drip irrigation, soaker hoses and hand watering. Please note: Indoor or outdoor hand watering of container or potted plants is allowed during Stage 1.
For more information on Stage 1 or other Drought Plan Stages, click here for summaries of each stage.
Q: Where does Dallas get its water?
A: Our water supply comes from six reservoirs: Lake Fork, Lake Grapevine, Lake Lewisville, Lake Ray Hubbard, Lake Ray Roberts and Lake Tawakoni. Connecting Lake Palestine is currently in the planning stages and is part of our joint project with the Tarrant Regional Water District.
Q: How can I keep track of the drought and lake conditions?
A: Visit Dallas’ lake level map by clicking here.
Q: What is Dallas doing about the drought?
A: Dallas manages the impact of drought according to its state-approved Drought Contingency Plan. The plan prescribes actions that will be taken during a drought to save water and ensure there is enough water to meet critical needs. The city calls on all customers to take extra steps to use less water during drought. The current Drought Contingency Plan for Dallas was approved by the City Council in June 2010.
Q: Why are drought measures different for some communities and other customers who are not provided water from Dallas?
A: Drought measures vary between communities because what might work in one area might not be applicable or appropriate for another. This is due in part to the number of water sources serving a particular community and their geographic location.
Q: Why is outdoor watering curtailed during a drought?
A: Most water providers include outdoor watering restrictions in these plans because landscape irrigation is one of the largest municipal uses of water during the summer months. Also, most landscapes can survive on less water and therefore water is saved for essential uses in homes and businesses.
Q: What is causing the drought of 2011?
A: A lack of rain coupled with above average high temperatures caused by a strong La Niña weather pattern that started in 2010.
Q: How long will the drought last?
A: It is not possible to accurately predict exactly how long the drought will last. 2011 has been a dry year because of a strong La Niña weather pattern. However, a strong La Niña often means a strong tropical storm season, so that might offer some relief. But rain must fall in the right place and for a sufficient amount of time to fill our lakes.
