City of Center Water System Implements Stage II of Conservation and Drought Plan
Mandatory Limitations on Lawn Watering Required

While the City’s long-term availability of water is not yet in jeopardy, there is the necessity to minimize daily usage. The City’s water system has experienced record consumption levels over the past three months combined with significant drought conditions. Center is almost twenty inches below average rainfall for 2011 and was also over ten inches below normal during 2010. This combined with the extended 100+ degree temperatures over the last two months have rapidly depleted the City’s storage in its two lakes. Lake Pinkston is approximately nine feet below normal operational level and Old City Lake has essentially reverted to a flowing creek. “This is the most severe drought East Texas has faced since the 1950s and the City is exploring options to enhance both immediate and long term water supply capacity,” stated Mayor David Chadwick.

It is anticipated that Old City Lake will soon become unreliable for water treatment to supplement the water supplied from Lake Pinkston. This minimizes the total amount of water the City’s system can produce on a daily basis. The City will have difficulties producing enough water on a daily basis without a reduction in use once Old City Lake becomes unreliable for producing water. The City needs to reduce roughly 400,000 gallons of use daily to minimize the possibility of water outages. “The City is already working with major customers and water supply corporations to accomplish over half of this goal, but the assistance of residential and business customers will be necessary to ensure the daily use doesn’t outpace production capability,” said Chad Nehring, City Manager.

Effective Tuesday, August 23rd, the City will implement Stage II of its Conservation and Drought Plan. The primary impact to most City water customers is that requested lawn watering schedules become mandatory restrictions and enforceable violations. Lawn watering limits include:

Addresses with even numbers, water ONLY on even numbered calendar days;
Addresses with odd numbers, water ONLY on odd numbered calendar days;
No lawn watering between the hours of 6 am and 8 pm;
No watering resulting in water running out of the yard into the street or ditch.

At this time, there are no limits on residential or business use other than outdoor watering restrictions. Continued conservation remains necessary and appreciated. Every customer will receive direct mail notice of these requirements within the week. No fines will be imposed for an initial period, but staff will begin issuing notices of violation in the form of warnings. “We hope to be able to meet our use reductions and inform our customers well enough that enforcement doesn’t become necessary,” stated Nehring.

If anyone has questions about water availability, water quality or services, City Hall can be contacted at 598-2941.