South Texas is no stranger to drought or the water use restrictions that come with it, but that does not mean a blind eye can be turned to the current drought that has plagued Boerne and the surrounding area since 2022.
What follows is the current stage the three local entities have placed their communities in and the restrictions that are currently in force.
The city of Boerne has been under Stage 2 water restrictions since Aug. 7, 2023. Residential and commercial utility customers must limit water for landscape irrigation, rules that also apply to reclaimed water customers.
Individual sprinklers or sprinkler systems for lawns, gardens or other landscaped areas on one day a week from 7-11 a.m. and 7-11 p.m. according to the last number of the street address: 0-1, Monday; 2-3, Tuesday; 4-5, Wednesday, 6-7 Thursday, and 8-9 Friday.
Watering on weekends is not allowed; watering by hand with a hose or bucket is allowed any time. City ordinance allows for the issuance of citations for water violators with fines up to $1,000 per violation.
Should the city of Boerne move restrictions to stage 3 the same rules apply but watering using anything other than a hose, or a bucket is restricted to one day every two weeks.
Fair Oaks Ranch
Just down the road in the city of Fair Oaks Ranch, stage 2 restrictions have been in place since Aug. 1, 2023.
Stage 1 rules applied: Commercial car washing (using non-recycled technology) is banned. Reduce water main flushing to that required to maintain quality standards. All landscaping permits have been rescinded and no new permits shall be issued, with an exception for newly built residential homes or with proof of new lawn purchase.
Residents may continue to water on their designated day or hand water by hose at any time.
The Fair Oaks Ranch watering schedule is midnight to 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight according to the last number of the street address: 0 on Sunday; 1, on Monday; 2-3, on Tuesday, 4-5, on Wednesday; 6-7, on Thursday; 8-9, on Friday; commercial accounts, on Saturday.
Stage 2 rules, on top of Stage 1 requirements, include: Ornamental water fountain usage is banned. No sale of bulk water. Fire hydrants use restricted to firefighting and related activities. Landscape watering permits for new lawn purchases are rescinded; no new permits will be issued. Golf course watering is limited to the use of effluent and non-potable irrigation well water.
Surcharges are in place for consumption of over 15,000 gallons per residence and 40,000 gallons per commercial account.
Cow Creek GCD
If your water source is the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District, you are under stage 4 as of July 18, 2023.
Water reduction for permitted users is a mandatory 40% reduction in groundwater use or as specified in the operating permit.
Day of week watering is assigned as: 0-1, Monday; 2-3, Tuesday; 4-5, Wednesday; 6-7, Thursday; and 8-9 Friday.
Community water systems and retail water utilities using groundwater are prohibited from allowing or approving the use of groundwater for additional, expanded or increase-in-size water service connections, meters, service lines, pipeline extensions, mains or water service facilities of any kind.
Irrigation of hay crops is prohibited, unless specified in an operating permit. No lawn or turf grass watering with groundwater is allowed at any time. Hand-held hoses or hand-held buckets are allowed any day before 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m. for landscape other than lawns and turf grass.
Home vegetable and fruit gardens may be watered before 10 a.m. or after 8 p.m. with a drip system, hand-held hose or hand-held buckets only.
Filling of ponds, lakes, tanks, fountains, ornamental ponds, reservoirs or other surface impoundments with groundwater is prohibited.
Use of groundwater for construction activities is prohibited, unless authorized by an operating permit.
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