April 4, 2012

Dear SoEH Owners,

April 2, 2012 - Garland City Council has updated the City of Garland’s Drought Contingency Response Plan to be comparable to other member cities of the North Texas Municipal Water District. The new water restrictions will go into effect May 1, 2012 and will affect the number of days and the days of the week residents will be allowed to water their lawn and/or landscape.

Under the old plan’s Stage 1 Water Restrictions, residents were asked to voluntarily limit lawn watering to twice a week on days designated by even and odd addresses. Under the new Stage 1 plan, residents are still asked to voluntarily limit lawn watering to twice a week but, residents will be free to choose which two days of the week they water.

The only difference in Stage 2 Water Restrictions of the new Drought Contingency Response Plan is that twice a week lawn watering will only be allowed on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Stage 3 Water Restrictions include several important changes. Previously, residents were allowed to water their lawns twice a week all year long. Under the new plan, during the months of April through October lawn watering will be limited to one day a week on Saturdays only. During the months of November through March, lawn watering will be restricted to one day every other week (twice a month) on the Saturday that coincides with the resident’s recycling schedule. To check Saturday recycling schedules visit www.garlandtx.gov/gov/eg/ews/ .

Just like the old plan, the new Stage 4 Water Restrictions prohibits lawn watering at any time. The only revision under this stage is in the wording of what areas are allowed to be watered two hours a day by a hand-held hose, soaker hose or by drip irrigation. Previously those areas were defined as foundations and trees. Under the new Stage 4 Water Restrictions, the areas are described as foundations, trees, and landscaped areas.

The water shortages experienced this past year initiated a review of Garland’s Drought Contingency Response Plan and Council realized that more could be done to increase Garland’s water conservation efforts. Garland Water Utilities would like to remind its customers that Stage 3 Water Restrictions are currently in effect. Customers are encouraged to visit the city’s website for complete details on new Stage 3 Water Restrictions at www.garlandtx.gov/gov/rz/utilities/water/ .

North Texas Municipal Water District is asking its member cities to remain at Stage 3 to ensure an adequate water supply remains available throughout the summer. Therefore beginning May 1, Garland residents and businesses will be limited to once a week watering on Saturday only. Lake Texoma, which typically fulfills 28 percent of the district’s water supply, remains offline due to the zebra mussel infestation.

Thank you,

Wint Marler
Board President
The Shores of Eastern Hills Owners Association, Inc.