More restrictions on watering begin

As lawns across San Antonio continue to brown, water restrictions have intensified.

On Saturday, for the first time since 2006, the water level in the Edwards Aquifer dipped below 650 feet, triggering Stage 2 water restrictions. City Manager Sheryl Sculley declared them in effect Monday

This is the earliest in the season since 2000 that the aquifer has dipped below 650 feet.

“It's concerning that the aquifer is already below 650 and we're only in mid-June because we have potentially a lot of hot days to come,” said Karen Guz, conservation director of the San Antonio Water System. “If we don't get rain, the aquifer will continue to drop. What we're trying to do is slow that rate of drop.”

Stage 1 water restrictions, which had been in effect since April 10, limit lawn watering to one day per week. Stage 2 restrictions do not further limit the number of days residents are allowed to water, but they do shorten the amount of time watering is allowed.

Stage 2 allows watering between 3 a.m. and 8 a.m. and between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on the same designated days as in Stage 1. Also allowed is washing cars in residential driveways during designated days and times. Watering lawns by hand-held hoses is allowed anytime.

Guz said there is a “very strong possibility” of Stage 3 restrictions, which occur if the aquifer drops below 640 feet. At Stage 3, residents keep the same hours of watering, but must limit watering to every other week.

The aquifer has been below 640 feet, most recently in 2000. But last year the trigger levels for each stage were increased by 10 feet; so in 2000 it was considered Stage 2.

San Antonians have never been asked to reduce watering to every other week, but Guz said that without a unified effort, they may be asked to do so soon. Once a set of restrictions is implemented, it is in place a minimum of 30 days.

“If we continue our rate of drop and don't get any rain, we could be at Stage 3 in as little as two weeks,” she said. “It is not inevitable. We could have a combination of luck and compliance to avoid the every-other-week watering restrictions, but we need everyone to participate.”

Residents are not the only users asked to conserve water. The Edwards Aquifer Authority reduces the amount of water allowed for all permit holders who pump from the aquifer, such as SAWS and Bexar Metropolitan Water District. These pumpers then require conservation from all users, residential and commercial alike.

Under Stage 2, operators of parks, golf courses and athletic fields must submit a conservation plan to SAWS.

Public fountains can operate only if recycled water is used, and hotels and motels must initiate a “linen change upon request only” program.

Those who fail to heed these guidelines, if caught by police, will face fines ranging from $50 to $100 for first-time offenders and up to $1,000 for multiple offenses.

“Just as you cannot ignore a traffic violation, you cannot ignore any municipal ticket for water waste,” Guz said.

BexarMet enforces the same restrictions, but not only to those affected by the aquifer's low levels.

“We enforce the same rules with all of our customers, even those who do not use the Edwards Aquifer, in an effort to conserve water in the region,” said Nathan Riggs, manager for water efficiency and community relations with BexarMet.

The official aquifer level of the Bexar County index well Monday was 648.7 feet

Matt Woolbright - Express-News