Lawn sprinkler on grass

DECLARATION OF STAGE 3 OF THE WATER CONSERVATION, WATER RESOURCE AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN AND WHY THIS IS NECESSARY

Note: This entry was last modified on July 15, 2022: 12:01 am and may be out of date.

SEE MODIFIED RESTRICTION UPDATED 08/09/22 – CLICK HERE

EFFECTIVE JULY 15, 2022, UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

City of Heath water customers are required to implement and abide by the seasonal water restrictions for Stage 3 Drought Conditions which include limited landscape watering with sprinklers or irrigation systems.

The following conditions are mandatory and failure to abide by these mandatory conditions is subject to fines of up to $2,000.

STAGE 3 RESTRICTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

  • No watering any day between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
  • Landscape watering with sprinklers or irrigation systems at each service address to is limited to ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS ON THE DAY OF YOUR CHOICE.
  • Hosing of paved areas, buildings or windows is prohibited. (Pressure washing of impervious surfaces is allowed.)
  • Washing and rinsing of vehicles by hose is prohibited; except with the use of a hose with a cutoff nozzle.
  • Using water in such a manner as to allow runoff or other waste is prohibited.
  • Foundations, new landscaping, new plantings (first year) of shrubs, and trees, may be watered for up to two hours on any single day (no limits on number of days per week) by a handheld hose, a soaker hose or a dedicated zone using a drip Irrigation system. Restricted hours of no watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. apply.
  • Golf courses may water greens and tee boxes without restrictions.
  • Public athletic fields used for competition may be watered twice per week.
  • Locations using other sources of water supply for irrigation may irrigate without restrictions.
  • Properly functioning drip irrigation systems may irrigate without restrictions if your system has the drip component. Just be sure the lawn sprinkler component is turned off.
  • Landscape associated with new construction may be watered as necessary for 30 days from the date of the certificate of occupancy, temporary certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion.
  • ET/Smart irrigation systems are not exempt from these requirements.
  • Existing swimming pools may be drained and refilled for repairs and replacement of normal water loss only. Please obtain a building permit prior to draining your pool. Instructions on where water is to be released will be provided.
  • Hydro-seeding, hydro-mulching and sprigging is prohibited.

WHY STAGE 3 WATER RESTRICTIONS?

There are several factors triggering Stage 3 water restrictions in the City of Heath, none of which are related to the level of water source lakes:

  1. Extreme Weather
    We have been in a prolonged period of extreme heat with a lack of rain.
  2. High Usage in Heath
    As a result, the water usage among City of Heath customers is far above and beyond what is approved by our water providers on a daily basis.
    The City of Heath is a customer of the City of Rockwall; which is a customer of North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD).
    The City of Rockwall sets the usage levels for the City of Heath and has directed the City of Heath to reduce its use immediately.
  3. High Usage throughout the System
    The prolonged period of extreme heat with a lack of rain has spurred high usage systemwide. NTMWD serves 2 million people in 80 communities.
  4. Water Storage Levels
    All of these issues combined have made it difficult to keep the City of Heath’s existing water storage infrastructure (1 inground tank; 2 water towers) at safe levels to respond to not only a high daily usage, but preparedness to fight the increased potential of structural or grass fires.

Thank you for doing your part to help the City maintain a safe water delivery capability during this challenging weather situation. We all hope that we can soon welcome more rain and cooler temperatures and return to normal usage.