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Monday, August 20, 2001
Water restrictions
Mandatory five-day lawn-watering schedule
Continued ban on watering any vegetation between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Trees, shrubs, plants and gardens can be watered daily, but not between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Fine of up to $500 for not complying
Water runoff into gutters and streets is discouraged To report illegal water use, call 1-800-928-8942
Watering schedule

AUGUST

If your address ends in. These are your watering days:
0 or 9:   1, 6, 11, 16, 21, 26, 31
1 or 8:   2, 7, 12, 17, 22, 27
2 or 7:   3, 8, 13, 18, 23, 28
3 or 6:   4, 9, 14, 19, 24, 29
4 or 5:   5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30

SEPTEMBER

If your address ends in. These are your watering days:
0 or 9:   5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30
1 or 8:   1, 6, 11, 16, 21, 26
2 or 7:   2, 7, 12, 17, 22, 27
3 or 6:   3, 8, 13, 18, 23, 28
4 or 5:   4, 9, 14, 19, 24, 29

OCTOBER

If your address ends in. These are your watering days:
0 or 9:   5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30
1 or 8:   1, 6, 11, 16, 21, 26, 31
2 or 7:   2, 7, 12, 17, 22, 27
3 or 6:   3, 8, 13, 18, 23, 28
4 or 5:   4, 9, 14, 19, 24, 29

NOVEMBER

If your address ends in. These are your watering days:
0 or 9:   4, 9, 14, 19, 24, 29
1 or 8:   5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30
2 or 7:   1 6, 11, 16, 21, 26
3 or 6:   2, 7, 12, 17, 22, 27
4 or 5:   3, 8, 13, 18, 23, 28

DECEMBER

If your address ends in. These are your watering days:
0 or 9:   4, 9, 14, 19, 24, 29
1 or 8:   5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30
2 or 7:   1 6, 11, 16, 21, 26
3 or 6:   2, 7, 12, 17, 22, 27
4 or 5:   3, 8, 13, 18, 23, 28

Water restrictions timeline
1984: A severe drought results in mandatory water rationing for several months before rains finally come. Before the rains the reservoir water level was below 10 percent of the combined capacity in 2001. Choke Canyon had opened only two years before and had yet to fill up.
1993: A record 60-day dry spell in mid-summer sets off discussions on the ever-present threat of a prolonged drought. City says reservoir system is facing a 100,000-acre-foot water shortfall by 2050.
1995: After two years without significant rainfall in the watershed, water supply hits the 50 percent mark. City starts operating the reservoir system differently - alternating water releases between Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon each month.
1996: The combined reservoir level dropped to a low of 26 percent and the city declared mandatory water restrictions. Mary Rhodes Pipeline project is approved.
1997:Construction begins on the 104-mile long pipeline. Torrential rains end a record drought and 13 months of water restrictions. City officials order the release of water from Lake Corpus Christi because of structural problems with Wesley Seale Dam.
1998: Second quarter is the driest on record locally. Rainfall total for April, May and June is 0.31 of an inch, shattering the record of 1.23 inches during the second quarter of 1923. Average daily water demand is 30-40 percent above last year’s use. By year’s end water flows through the Mary Rhodes Pipeline from Lake Texana to Corpus Christi.
1999: No water restrictions are mandated. Dam repair project begins.
2000: Reservoir levels reach a low of 32.4 percent capacity, the lowest level since 1996, before October rainfall in the watershed brings relief. By end of year reservoir levels return to more than 39 percent. Mary Rhodes Pipeline spares city from water restrictions. The city gets 46 percent to 52 percent of its water from Lake Texana.
2001: The $22.1 million Wesley Seale Dam repair project is completed. In April city agrees to new state-mandated rules in order to keep more water in its two reservoirs, with the first in effect immediately. Since combined level of the city’s two reservoirs has dropped to 40 percent or lower, residents may not water between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Residents who water their lawns during the day face tickets and fines up to $500.
Aug. 16, 2001: Reservoirs drop to 30 percent. To get relief from water releases, city declares additional mandatory water restrictions. For example, lawn watering is limited to once every five days, watering only before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. on those days.
Source: Caller-Times files
Compiled by Margaret Neu, Caller-Times Information Services Editor

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