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No Outdoor Water Use in Southwest Georgetown
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The City of Georgetown is prohibiting outdoor water use in the southwest area of Georgetown effective immediately through noon on Monday, July 20 or until further notice. The outdoor watering ban is due to the effect of low aquifer levels on operations at the Southside Water Treatment Plant. There will be no exceptions for irrigation of new grass or other plantings.
The area of the outdoor watering prohibition includes all City of Georgetown water customers in the southwest quadrant west of Interstate 35 and south of University Avenue/Texas 29. (See map at right.)
The Southside Water Treatment Plant was taken off-line at noon today. “We’re working to restore normal operations as quickly as possible,” says Jim Briggs, assistant city manager for utilities. Briggs says that other treatment plants will provide water for the southwest area of the city, but the outdoor water use ban in that area is needed while the plant is not operating. Residents should check the City website for any updates on the water use situation.
The prohibition in southwest areas includes all outdoor water uses such as irrigation systems, sprinklers, hoses, car washing, pool filling, etc. The use of buckets or containers to water potted plants, as well as indoor water uses such as drinking, cooking, and cleaning, are not affected by the ban.
To report a violation of the outdoor water use prohibition, call the 24-hour Georgetown Utility Systems number at (512) 930-3555 or email gus@georgetowntx.org. “Our goal is for people to abide by this water restriction, but we will be enforcing this temporary ban,” says Briggs.
Other areas of Georgetown are not affected by the outdoor water use prohibition. However, all residents are strongly encouraged to follow the summer watering schedule, which allows for outdoor watering no more often than three times each week between the hours of 7 p.m. to 10 a.m. Your schedule is based on the last digit of your address number:
Odd addresses: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Even addresses: Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
The above schedule is for irrigation systems and unattended outdoor sprinklers. Watering with a hand-held hose or bucket can be done on any day between the hours of 7 p.m. to 10 a.m. for those areas outside the temporary restriction.
No one should do outdoor watering on Mondays. This allows the water system to re-charge after weekend days when demand is typically at the peak.
The City announced earlier this week that mandatory water restrictions may be put into place for the entire City unless residents voluntarily reduce their water use.
For more information on water conservation and the water supply situation, go to water.georgetown.org.
Posted in Archived, Georgetown Utility Systems
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2 Responses to “No Outdoor Water Use in Southwest Georgetown”
Sunday, July 19, I drove down Railroad St. Sprinkler system for the Oaks was going full blast along the area outside the fence and along the sidewalk. The sidewalk was wet and water was running down the gutter into the storm drain. The area is not even a common use area for the complex. This is not the only commercial misuse of water. Many of them use automatic timers and I have seen them running full blast even during one of our infrequent rains.
I might add that the city rec center often has water running down the concrete areas when its sprinkler system is on. Seems like the city could set a better example either by adjusting the sprinkler level or using xeriscaping as they did at the library.
We live in the southwest quadrant affected by the watering ban. Months of hard work to maintain potted plants is being undone. We hand water and do not misuse the sprinkler. Our back yard is completely dried up as we decided it was too wasteful to keep watering it. We do maintain our front yard by using a soaker hose and moving it frequently.
Just another suggestion in this drought that might be helpful. Glenn and I went to breakfast this morning and before we had a chance to tell the waiter, he brought water to the table. We looked around and saw much water being wasted. Just a suggestion: perhaps businesses could be asked to ask patrons if they wanted water or not. In Illinois we went through a drought several years back and that was the policy at most restaurants. If patrons asked for water, it was provided. This would just be a small conservation effort, but every drop counts. It is that many glasses that don’t need to be washed as well. Just a suggestion!