The City of Dumas said July 8 that it was entering into Stage 4 of critical water shortage conditions, due to water level conditions that continue to stress the city’s water supply and the increased high demand on the city’s water system.
The Dumas Noon Lions Club shared July 16 that Dumas City Manager Mark Hall gave the group an update on the community’s water situation, with the city is actively working on long-term solutions, including new wells, rehabilitating storage facilities, and expanding water capacity. The water conservation efforts will help protect the city’s drinking water supply and essential services. “The good news is that progress is being made, and additional water is on the way once it meets all state safety requirements,” a Facebook post says. “Every drop saved today helps secure Dumas’ water future for tomorrow.”
Under the Stage 4 Drought Contingency Plan rules, landscape irrigation is limited, and personal car washing and pool filling are prohibited, among other actions. These include:
Limited irrigation of landscaped areas
Irrigation of landscaped areas is limited to Sundays for customers with an even-number street address, and Saturdays for water customers with an odd-number street address.
The time limit is between 30 minutes before sunset on the designated watering days and 30 minues after sunrise the next day. Methods allowed include hand-held hoses, hand-held buckets, drip irrigation or permanently installed automatic sprinkler system and hose-end sprinklers with a timer only.
No vehicle washing outside of commercial establishments
If not in the immediate interest of public health, safety, and welfare, the City of Dumas said it is prohibited to use water to wash any motor vehicle, motorbike, boat, trailer, airplane or other vehicle outside of the premises of a commercial car or truck wash and commercial stations.
Vehicle washing at commercial car washes and service stations is only allowed between 8 p.m. and noon the next day.
No filling of swimming pools, fountains or ponds, with some exceptions
It is prohibited to use water in filling, refilling or adding of water to swimming pools, wading pools and jacuzzi-type pools.
The operation of any ornamental fountain or pond for aesthetic or scenic purposes is also prohibited — except where necessary to support aquatic life, or where there’s already a recirculation system in place.
No new applications for water use to be allowed
The city said no applications for new, additional, expanded or increased-in-size water service connections, meters, service lines, pipeline extensions, mains or water service facilities of any kind shall be approved.
To report a violation, contact Code Enforcement at 806-935-4101 Ext. 207 or arobles@dumastx.gov .
Kristina Wood is managing editor of the Amarillo Globe-News, whose coverage includes Amarillo and Canyon, and into the Texas Panhandle. Have a story idea? Send it in at newmedia@amarillo.com .
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: City of Dumas enters Stage 4 water restrictions due to demand
Reporting by Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News | USA TODAY Network
