austin considering moving to a permanent once a week schedule (Center: home, landscaping)

[Austin97]

Got this email through my HOA

Dear Austin Water Customer,

Building on lessons learned during the drought, Austin Water is proposing to move to a permanent once-per-week watering schedule. This would mark a significant change for our community and we are seeking your input as we move this proposal forward to City Council. Watering restrictions are our biggest water savings measure and the one-day-per-week restrictions, along with positive community response, were critical in keeping the Highland Lakes above emergency levels during the worst parts of the drought. Given scientific predictions that this region is likely moving permanently to a hotter and dryer climate, Austin Water believes that permanent one-day-per-week restrictions are a sound direction for our community.

Along with consideration of one-day-per-week watering restrictions, Austin Water also wants public input on other parts of the conservation code to help develop the best overall package of conservation strategies. For example, if one-day-per-week watering restrictions become permanent, other restrictions might be relaxed in earlier conservation stages, such as those on power washing, fountains, commercial patio misters, and home car washes. We would like your input and participation in putting together a package that best protects our water resources in these challenging times.

To kick off the public input process we will hold the first of several meetings on December 2nd. Residents will have an opportunity to engage in small group discussions that will help us craft the regulations that support this new watering schedule. Please come and share your ideas and recommendations.

Wednesday, December 2
Waller Creek Center
625 E. 10th Street, Room 104
6:00 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.
Free garage parking

If you plan to attend or have any questions about this process, please let us know by emailing Geneva Guerrero, geneva.guerrero@austintexas.gov. Austin Water’s current Water Conservation Code can be reviewed online by visiting http://www.austintexas.gov/sites/def.../ordinance.pdf .

Kindest Regards,
Greg Meszaros, Director
Austin Water

[centralaustinite]

works for me! I turned my irrigation system off long ago. I have neighbors who water for 2-3 hours, I can't imagine their bills.

[Gorfml]

2-3 hours? Lol if we did that not only would all the grass die, the trees would too...

So Austin is considering going to once a week but the farmers are still going to get to use more water than all of Austin uses by a factor of whatever... gg Austin...

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

works for me! I turned my irrigation system off long ago. I have neighbors who water for 2-3 hours, I can't imagine their bills.

Me too. I've been xeriscaping, so I'd much rather trade this off and maybe gain back the ability to wash my car once or twice a year.

[sojourner77]

This is much easier than building a new reservoir that Austin can pull water from.

[unihills]

Originally Posted by Gorfml

2-3 hours? Lol if we did that not only would all the grass die, the trees would too...

So Austin is considering going to once a week but the farmers are still going to get to use more water than all of Austin uses by a factor of whatever... gg Austin...

How do you account for all the trees still alive out there that don't receive one drop of irrigation?

Proper watering once weekly is certainly enough to maintain mature trees in good health in an urban setting.

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by Gorfml

2-3 hours? Lol if we did that not only would all the grass die, the trees would too...

So Austin is considering going to once a week but the farmers are still going to get to use more water than all of Austin uses by a factor of whatever... gg Austin...

Do you want a green lawn or food on your plate ??

[riaelise]

My (non turf grass) landscaping requires 1" of water per week in the absence of rain fall. I am not going to spend the $$$$ to xeriscape a half acre lot. Screw green grass, I just don't want my lot looking like a desert. I come from the northeast, where the things are green. Having a rock showcase with sporadic yuccas isn't my thing.

I will also fill my pool because I do not want to damage the equipment, which can happen due to the blazing hot heat.

Questions About a Swimming Pool Losing Water | Home Guides | SF Gate

Both things are investments that I will protect because they are far more expensive to replace. I understand the need to be water wise and I don't add any plants that are notorious water hogs, but there needs to be some middle ground. Once a week watering is detrimental. In addition, our area has clay soils. "All or nothing" watering produces runoff pretty quickly.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by riaelise

I will also fill my pool because I do not want to damage the equipment, which can happen due to the blazing hot heat.

And you are welcome to order a truckfull of water to do so.

Originally Posted by riaelise

In addition, our area has clay soils. "All or nothing" watering produces runoff pretty quickly.

Not with soaker hoses.

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by Novacek

And you are welcome to order a truckfull of water to do so.




Not with soaker hoses.

I am not going to order a "truckfull of water". I will continue to water twice per week and will pay whatever bill crosses my desk.

And it would take many meters of soaker hoses (at a cost to me) to handle all of the landscaping on my lot. No thanks.