City Council Lifts Drought Level 1 Watering Restrictions

SAN ANGELO, TX -- The San Angelo City Council Tuesday lifted Drought Level One watering restrictions due to recent rains and runoff into area lakes.  

According to the city’s website, on Friday the city received updated information about the amount of water in O.H. Ivie Reservoir from the Colorado River Municipal Water District, which owns and operates the lake. The new data has extended the available water supply to 25 months. Drought Level 1 is enacted when the water supply dips to 24 months. That is a worst-case scenario that assumes no rainfall or runoff into reservoirs during that span.

San Angelo reverted to standard conservation, effective immediately upon the City Council’s action at its meeting Tuesday. That allows outside watering twice every seven days and no more than 1 inch per week. Irrigating lawns from noon-6 p.m. is prohibited. It is always a violation to allow water to run more than 150 feet from one’s property.

Ivie, San Angelo’s primary water source, is 15 percent full. Twin Buttes Reservoir is at 9 percent of its capacity, O.C. Fisher Reservoir is at 6 percent, and Lake Nasworthy is at 82 percent. Year-to-date rainfall is about 2 inches above normal.

“We’re entering a season of cooler temperatures and, hopefully, more rainfall,” Water Utilities Director Allison Strube said. “We’re hopeful we can remain in standard conservation mode for a significant stretch.”

Drought Level 1 also triggers a 5-percent surcharge for monthly usage of 3,000-15,000 gallons; the charge is 10 percent or 20 percent for higher-volume users. The surcharge will be removed from all bills sent in the October billing cycle. The average household uses about 5,000 gallons per month, which equates to a 75-cent surcharge. The fee is meant to incentive more conservative usage.

The vote to lift water restrictions Tuesday was unanimous.