Fair Oaks Ranch came within 2-3 hours of issuing a “boil water notice” to its residence Aug. 1 after a monitoring system alerted to critically low water pressure.
Scott Huizenga, interim city manager, Wednesday said the city “ran into a situation where city water use substantially outpaced what we can produce,” forcing the city to contact residents and urge immediate water restriction and conservation.
“We average about 3 million gallons a day production; our consumption was outpacing that,” Huizenga said. “When the water level gets too low, that can cause low pressure in our entire system.”
The city released a stern warning: “In the event that demand continues to exceed water supply, pumping capacity and storage tank reserves are depleted, the city will be forced to issue a boil water notice. This could result in a loss of pressure or service to your home.”
Fortunately, Huizenga said, that “boil water notice” did not occur.
“The good news is, we did see a very significant drop-off in water consumption (Tuesday) night, so I think people did get the message,” he said. “The importance is to stay with it, reduce consumption and conserve.”
That drop-off eased the city’s water burden – but it could return if conservation and use reduction is not maintained.
“This was not necessarily a one-time event. If we go back to the same level of usage, we could see a recurrence,” he added.
“What we want to … see is our residents conserving as much as possible. If they are watering, they need to be doing it on the right day and at the right times,” he added.
Coincidentally, the city issued the water-level emergency notice on the same day that its Stage 2 watering restriction notice went into effect.
Huizenga said the city gave notice July 13 that it was moving into Stage 1 water restrictions, and the Stage 2 notice followed shortly after.
“We knew for about a week-and-a-half that Aug. 1 would be the date we’d initiate stage 2,” he said.
The city’s test well level, he said, is currently at about 1,030 feet -- Stage 2 parameters include test well “averages less than or equal to 1,035 feet for eight consecutive days. So, we’re in Stage 2 now.”
Stage 2 water usage cutbacks include: no commercial car washing; ornamental water fountain usage is banned; sale of bulk water is forbidden; landscape watering permits for new lawn purchases are rescinded and no new permits will be issued; and golf course watering is limited to the use of effluent and non-potable irrigation well water.
In addition, a water surcharge goes into effect for consumption over 15,000 gallons per residential account and 40,000 gallons per commercial account per billing period.
“We have very few residents that ever get to 100,000 gallons. That surcharge would be $1,100,” he said. “Someone using 25,000 gallons a month, they’d see a $25 per month surcharge on top of what they normally pay.”
The city prefers water conservation education efforts to violations, enforcement and fines.
“Our code compliance officer is out, and if we see violations, we’ll first issue educational information about water conservation practices,” he said. “If we see it again, we issue a more stern warning. Our first choice is not to go down the road of enforcement. That’s not something we want to do.”
Huizenga said the surcharge is not a “money- making tool” for the city.
“The point of the surcharge is not to make money; our sole attempt is to reduce consumption, and conserve, conserve, conserve,” he said. “Our philosophy has always been to use compliance over code enforcement.”
Stage 3 water restrictions would kick in if the city’s test well water level drops to 1,020 feet.
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