City back to Stage 1 drought restrictions

With declining regional water demands during the winter season and higher aquifer levels, the city of San Marcos returned to the lessstringent Stage 1 drought restrictions this week.

San Marcos has been in drought restrictions for much of 2012.

The city has been in Stage 2 drought restrictions since Sept. 21; it had entered Stage 3 — the most restrictive — on Aug. 20.

“We strongly encourage residents to continue conserving water,” Tom Taggart, Executive Director of Public Services, said in a news release.

“We have had a very dry autumn, and aquifer and lake levels are still well below average for this time of year,” Taggart said.

On Monday the 10-day average aquifer level was at 651.4 feet above sea level, according to a city news release.

The historic average aquifer level for December is 668.9 feet above sea level.

Stage 1 drought rules restrict the use of sprinklers to one day per week, with the day being determined by the location’s address.

Hand watering and using soaker hoses or drip irrigation is allowed on any day at any time.

Stage 1 rules also limit athome car washing to one day per week and prohibit washing impervious surfaces.

A full list of restrictions can be found at www.sanmarcostx.gov/drought.