Amid the ongoing drought and continued triple-digit temperatures in the region, Boerne Utilities water customers will now enter Stage 2 water restrictions.
The new restrictions will take effect Aug. 7. Stage 2 restrictions apply to potable and reclaimed water customers.
The city has also directed members of Permitting and Code Compliance and Boerne Police to increase patrols during prohibited watering times and issue citations to violators.
Any water customer caught watering outside approved days is subject to a fine upward of $1,000.
“We all have a responsibility to be good stewards of our natural resources,” Chris Shadrock, director of communications, said. “Unfortunately, we continue to see record high usage from customers, which is placing additional strain on our equipment.”
Since increasing public outreach about water restrictions and ways to report watering violations last summer, Boerne Utilities has notified customers via reverse phone messages, social media, local media reports, and received more than 150 reports of watering violations from residents and sent out letters to customers alerting them of their water usage.
During the summer, Utilities customers average nearly triple their water usage compared to winter months. Almost all this increase is used for yard irrigation and puts added stress on the utility system.
With high heat and little to no rain chances expected over the next 7-10 days, peak water usage is unusually limited. “We need to continue to be proactive in our water conservation efforts and reduce the use of water to irrigate yards,” Shadrock added.
Under Stage 2, watering with an irrigation system is limited to one day a week, with curtailed watering hours, but excessive water use and waste needs to be eliminated.
By moving to the next stage of restrictions, Boerne will continue to have some of the strictest watering restrictions compared to other Hill Country munici-
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