San Marcos Will Return to Stage 1 Drought Restrictions

The City of San Marcos will return to Stage 1 drought restrictions on August 9th, in response to dropping levels in the Edwards Aquifer.

Conservation Coordinator of the City of San Marcos, Jan Klein says reservoir levels are approaching drought triggers

“Our reservoirs are doing a lot better than they were earlier in the year but several of them are still a bit on the low side, those levels are dropping rapidly so it looks like we’re going to end up going back into a stage one drought sometime very soon.”

Klein says future drought stages rely heavily on the weather San Marcos receives.

It’s dependent on the weather really it’s depending on the rain. They’re saying that we could be in a big El Nińo weather pattern which hopefully will later help us in the fall and winter months and hopefully we will get more rain but we just won’t know that for sure.”

A drought is triggered when the ten day average Edwards Aquifer level falls below a certain point. Stage 1 occurs when the average falls below 660 feet above mean sea level (msl).On Thursday July 30th the 10-day average aquifer level was at 659.5 feet and the daily reading was 656.6 feet.

Stage 1 will restrict the use of sprinklers to one day per week on the designated weekday residents will be given, determined by address. Irrigation using hose-end sprinklers will be allowed on the designated weekday before 10 a.m. or after 8 p.m. Irrigation with automatic irrigation systems will be allowed on the designated weekday beginning 8 p.m. and ending the following morning by 8 a.m.

Hand watering and soaker hose usage or drip irrigation will be allowed without restrictions

Stage 1 rules will also limit at-home car washing, washing of impervious surfaces and foundation watering to one day per week. The City also emphasized that wasting water is prohibited.

“It is essential that residents continue to conserve water” says Tom Taggart, Executive Director of City of San Marcos Public Services.  “We had a wet spring and people may have become complacent, but it’s important to remember that drought is always just around the corner in our area.”   

The full list of Stage 1 rules can be found on the City of San Marcos website at www.sanmarcostx.gov/drought.

For more information you can visit the City of San Marcos website or contact Jan Klein 512-393-8310.