FORNEY, Texas – With the threat of Stage 4 water restrictions looming each month, the tone has definitely changed in the way local and regional officials talk about water conservation.
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A week ago, North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) Executive Director Tom Kula called for unified efforts of its approximate 1.6 million water customers to conserve water supplies and urged residents with automatic sprinklers to turn them off and operate them in manual mode.
Currently, the City of Forney and its commercial and residential water customers are in modified Stage 3 water restrictions until October 31, 2014 – allowing for WATERING ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS. Most automatic sprinklers systems are programmed to water once a week which is not in compliance with current water restrictions and should be checked for compliance.
Homeowners with sprinklers systems who choose to program their systems to operate in automatic mode once every two weeks should also run their system, at least once, at a time they can inspect all the sprinkler heads to insure proper watering and check for any leaks.
The City of Forney says they will begin cracking down on high-usage water customers and will begin issuing warnings and citations to water users not in compliance. The Utility Billing department will also check its records for high-usage customers and send out notifications. “As much as we don't like to be the water police,” said Forney City Manager Brian Brooks. “It's gonna require us to start issuing citations.”
“We're going to schedule a meeting with the home builders and the HOAs to discuss proper watering of new landscaping and their green spaces,” said Forney Public Works Director Chris Metz. Letters will be sent out to water customers and billboards will possibly be purchased for public education purposes.
Stage 4 restrictions could halt development and has the potential to cripple the local economy, according to local and regional officials.
“After meeting with the new executive director [of NTMWD] last week, it is extremely clear to me, and it needs to be clear to the public, we are in a dire emergency,” said Brooks. “We are teetering on Stage 4. Stage 4 is mandatory cutoff, massive reductions, and it will stop development.”
Some lawns will die this summer as a result of the ongoing drought. However, if we don't do our part to conserve water, much more will be lost, say officials.
“It's gonna take vigilance by the citizens, by our neighborhoods, by our police department, and by our code enforcement,” said Brooks. “Every homeowner needs to really evaluate the value of that lawn versus the value of this community.”
“Put some pressure on your neighbors to do the right thing,” Brooks said.
Stage 4 restrictions will also shutdown the Forney Community Park splash pad. Currently the water used at the splash pad returns to a reserve tank used to irrigate the park – which must also comply with the current water restrictions.
Watering is not only restricted to once every two weeks on your scheduled day (see below for schedule) but also prohibited between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Visit the City of Forney's website, here, to report water restriction violators (reports can be made anonymously). If you live outside the city limits, report violations to your respective water supply company listed below:
Travis Ranch
Forney Lake Water
(972) 722-3203
http://www.forneylakewater.com
Devonshire
High Point Water
(972) 564-3801
http://highpointwsc.com
Windmill Farms and Heartland
Severn Trent Environmental Services
(972) 552-9496
www.severntrentservices.com
Markout Water Supply
(972) 564-1250
http://www.markoutwsc.com
Talty Water Supply
(972) 552-4422
http://www.taltywsc.com
Some of the water supply companies listed above have different watering schedules listed on their websites but the watering schedule provided by the NTMWD and the City of Forney is recommended for Stage 3 water conservation efforts.
Typically, in Stage 3, water customers are asked to conserve an additional 10 percent on water usage. Kula is urging 15 to 20 percent additional conservation efforts to delay or avoid Stage 4 water restrictions.
“It is critical that our existing water supplies be preserved to maintain adequate supplies for our highest priorities – public health, sanitation, and firefighting capabilities,” said Kula.
Below are a list of frequently asked questions and answers listed on the City of Forney's website:
Am I allowed any additional watering? You may water trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables, gardens, and any other landscaping any day up to two hours by a hand-held hose or low- volume non-spray irrigation. These areas may be watered by spray irrigation on the assigned watering days only and not between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Are there restrictions for at home car washing? This is permitted any time, any day with the use of a shut-off spray nozzle. (Fundraising car washes will need to contact City of Forney Public Works prior to event. 972-564-7340)
What are the restrictions for swimming pools? Existing pools may be minimally filled to compensate for any water loss or evaporation. Pools may not be completely drained and refilled unless there are necessary repairs (in this case, please contact City of Forney Public Works prior to work. 972-564-7340).
What are the variances for new landscaping? New landscaping may water as needed without restriction for 30 days from date of installation.
Latest water schedule released by the City of Forney:
Following the Odd/Even watering schedule:
Monday, June 2, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 0,2,4,6,8
Tuesday, June 3, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 1,3,5,7,9
Wednesday, June 4, 2014 - Schools, Parks, Athletic Fields, Places of Worship
Monday, June 16, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 0,2,4,6,8
Tuesday, June 17, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 1,3,5,7,9
Wednesday June 18, 2014 - Schools, Parks, Athletic Fields, Places of Worship
Monday, June 30, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 0,2,4,6,8
Tuesday, July 1, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 1,3,5,7,9
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 - Schools, Parks, Athletic Fields, Places of Worship
Monday, July 14, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 0,2,4,6,8
Tuesday, July 15, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 1,3,5,7,9
Wednesday, July 16, 2014 - Schools, Parks, Athletic Fields, Places of Worship
Monday, July 28, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 0,2,4,6,8
Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 1,3,5,7,9
Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - Schools, Parks, Athletic Fields, Places of Worship
The City of Forney's website also has a page which includes several different water conservation tips.
Currently, the City of Forney and its commercial and residential water customers are in modified Stage 3 water restrictions until October 31, 2014 – allowing for WATERING ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS. Most automatic sprinklers systems are programmed to water once a week which is not in compliance with current water restrictions and should be checked for compliance.
Homeowners with sprinklers systems who choose to program their systems to operate in automatic mode once every two weeks should also run their system, at least once, at a time they can inspect all the sprinkler heads to insure proper watering and check for any leaks.
The City of Forney says they will begin cracking down on high-usage water customers and will begin issuing warnings and citations to water users not in compliance. The Utility Billing department will also check its records for high-usage customers and send out notifications. “As much as we don't like to be the water police,” said Forney City Manager Brian Brooks. “It's gonna require us to start issuing citations.”
“We're going to schedule a meeting with the home builders and the HOAs to discuss proper watering of new landscaping and their green spaces,” said Forney Public Works Director Chris Metz. Letters will be sent out to water customers and billboards will possibly be purchased for public education purposes.
Stage 4 restrictions could halt development and has the potential to cripple the local economy, according to local and regional officials.
“After meeting with the new executive director [of NTMWD] last week, it is extremely clear to me, and it needs to be clear to the public, we are in a dire emergency,” said Brooks. “We are teetering on Stage 4. Stage 4 is mandatory cutoff, massive reductions, and it will stop development.”
Some lawns will die this summer as a result of the ongoing drought. However, if we don't do our part to conserve water, much more will be lost, say officials.
“It's gonna take vigilance by the citizens, by our neighborhoods, by our police department, and by our code enforcement,” said Brooks. “Every homeowner needs to really evaluate the value of that lawn versus the value of this community.”
“Put some pressure on your neighbors to do the right thing,” Brooks said.
Stage 4 restrictions will also shutdown the Forney Community Park splash pad. Currently the water used at the splash pad returns to a reserve tank used to irrigate the park – which must also comply with the current water restrictions.
Watering is not only restricted to once every two weeks on your scheduled day (see below for schedule) but also prohibited between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Visit the City of Forney's website, here, to report water restriction violators (reports can be made anonymously). If you live outside the city limits, report violations to your respective water supply company listed below:
Travis Ranch
Forney Lake Water
(972) 722-3203
http://www.forneylakewater.com
Devonshire
High Point Water
(972) 564-3801
http://highpointwsc.com
Windmill Farms and Heartland
Severn Trent Environmental Services
(972) 552-9496
www.severntrentservices.com
Markout Water Supply
(972) 564-1250
http://www.markoutwsc.com
Talty Water Supply
(972) 552-4422
http://www.taltywsc.com
Some of the water supply companies listed above have different watering schedules listed on their websites but the watering schedule provided by the NTMWD and the City of Forney is recommended for Stage 3 water conservation efforts.
Typically, in Stage 3, water customers are asked to conserve an additional 10 percent on water usage. Kula is urging 15 to 20 percent additional conservation efforts to delay or avoid Stage 4 water restrictions.
“It is critical that our existing water supplies be preserved to maintain adequate supplies for our highest priorities – public health, sanitation, and firefighting capabilities,” said Kula.
Below are a list of frequently asked questions and answers listed on the City of Forney's website:
Am I allowed any additional watering? You may water trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables, gardens, and any other landscaping any day up to two hours by a hand-held hose or low- volume non-spray irrigation. These areas may be watered by spray irrigation on the assigned watering days only and not between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Are there restrictions for at home car washing? This is permitted any time, any day with the use of a shut-off spray nozzle. (Fundraising car washes will need to contact City of Forney Public Works prior to event. 972-564-7340)
What are the restrictions for swimming pools? Existing pools may be minimally filled to compensate for any water loss or evaporation. Pools may not be completely drained and refilled unless there are necessary repairs (in this case, please contact City of Forney Public Works prior to work. 972-564-7340).
What are the variances for new landscaping? New landscaping may water as needed without restriction for 30 days from date of installation.
Latest water schedule released by the City of Forney:
Following the Odd/Even watering schedule:
Monday, June 2, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 0,2,4,6,8
Tuesday, June 3, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 1,3,5,7,9
Wednesday, June 4, 2014 - Schools, Parks, Athletic Fields, Places of Worship
Monday, June 16, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 0,2,4,6,8
Tuesday, June 17, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 1,3,5,7,9
Wednesday June 18, 2014 - Schools, Parks, Athletic Fields, Places of Worship
Monday, June 30, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 0,2,4,6,8
Tuesday, July 1, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 1,3,5,7,9
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 - Schools, Parks, Athletic Fields, Places of Worship
Monday, July 14, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 0,2,4,6,8
Tuesday, July 15, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 1,3,5,7,9
Wednesday, July 16, 2014 - Schools, Parks, Athletic Fields, Places of Worship
Monday, July 28, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 0,2,4,6,8
Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - Addresses ending with: 1,3,5,7,9
Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - Schools, Parks, Athletic Fields, Places of Worship
The City of Forney's website also has a page which includes several different water conservation tips.