Site Search | Contact Us

Goal for Use Reduction and Actions Available under Stage 1

Stage 1 is intended to raise public awareness of potential drought or water emergency problems. The goal for water use reduction under Stage 1 is a two percent reduction in the amount of water produced by NTMWD. The Town Manager, Mayor, or official designee may order the implementation of any of the actions listed below, as deemed necessary:

  • Request voluntary reductions in water use by the public and by wholesale customers.
  • Notify wholesale customers of actions being taken and request implementation of similar procedures.
  • Increase public education efforts on ways to reduce water use.
  • Review the problems that caused the initiation of Stage 1.
  • Intensify efforts on leak detection and repair.
  • Reduce non-essential town government water use. (Examples include street cleaning, vehicle washing, operation of ornamental fountains, etc.)
  • Notify major water users and work with them to achieve voluntary water use reductions.
  • Reduce town government water use for landscape irrigation.
  • Ask the public to follow voluntary landscape watering schedules.


Goal for Use Reduction and Actions Available under Stage 2

The goal for water use reduction under Stage 2 is a five percent reduction in the amount of water produced by NTMWD. If circumstances warrant or if required by NTMWD, the Town Manager, Mayor, or official designee can set a goal for greater water use reduction. The Town Manager, Mayor, or official designee may order the implementation of any of the actions listed below, as deemed necessary. Measures described as “requires notification to TCEQ” impose mandatory requirements on customers. The supplier must notify TCEQ and NTMWD within five business days if these measures are implemented:

  • Continue or initiate any actions available under Stage 1.
  • Notify wholesale customers of actions being taken and request them to implement similar procedures.
  • Initiate engineering studies to evaluate alternatives should conditions worsen.
  • Further accelerate public education efforts on ways to reduce water use.
  • Halt non-essential town government water use. (Examples include street cleaning, vehicle washing, operation of ornamental fountains, etc.)
  • Encourage the public to wait until the current drought or emergency situation has passed before establishing new landscaping.
  • Limit landscape watering with sprinklers or irrigation systems to no more than two days per week. An exception is allowed for landscape associated with new construction that may be watered as necessary for 30 days from the date of the certificate of occupancy. An exemption is also allowed for registered and properly functioning ET/Smart irrigation systems and drip irrigation systems, which do not have restrictions to the number of days per week of operation.
  • Restrict landscape and lawn irrigation from 10 AM to 6 PM beginning April 1 through October 31 of each year.
  • Prohibit planting of cool season grasses (such as rye grass or other similar grasses) that intensify cool season water requirements.


Goals for Use Reduction and Actions Available under Stage 3

The goal for water use reduction under Stage 3 is a reduction of ten percent in the amount of water obtained from NTMWD. If circumstances warrant or if required by NTMWD, the Town Manager, Mayor, or official designee can set a goal for a greater water use reduction.

The Town Manager, Mayor, or official designee must implement any action(s) required by NTMWD. In addition, the Town Manager, Mayor, or official designee may order the implementation of any of the actions listed below, as deemed necessary. Measures described as “requires notification to TCEQ” impose mandatory requirements on customers. The supplier must notify TCEQ and NTMWD within five business days if these measures are implemented:

  • Continue or initiate any actions available under Stages 1 and 2.
  • Notify wholesale customers of actions being taken and request them to implement similar procedures.
  • Implement viable alternative water supply strategies.
  • Initiate mandatory water use restrictions as follows:
    • Prohibit hosing of paved areas, buildings, or windows. (Pressure washing of impervious surfaces is allowed.)
    • Prohibit operation of all ornamental fountains or other amenity impoundments to the extent they use treated water.
    • Prohibit washing or rinsing of vehicles by hose except with a hose end cutoff nozzle.
    • Prohibit using water in such a manner as to allow runoff or other waste.
  • Limit landscape watering with sprinklers or irrigation systems at each service address to once every seven days. Exceptions are as follows:
    • Foundations, new landscaping, new plantings (first year) of shrubs, and trees may be watered for up to 2 hours on any day by a hand-held hose, a soaker hose, or a dedicated zone using a drip irrigation system.
    • Golf courses may water greens and tee boxes without restrictions.
    • Public athletic fields used for competition may be watered twice per week.
    • Locations using other sources of water supply for irrigation may irrigate without restrictions.
    • Registered and properly functioning ET/Smart irrigation systems and drip irrigation systems may irrigate without restrictions.
  • Limit landscape watering with sprinklers or irrigation systems between November 1 and March 31 to once every two weeks. An exception is allowed for landscape associated with new construction that may be watered as necessary for 30 days from the date of the certificate of occupancy, temporary certificate of occupancy, or certificate of completion.
  • Prohibit hydroseeding, hydromulching, and sprigging.
  • Existing swimming pools may not be drained and refilled (except to replace normal water loss).
  • Initiate a rate surcharge as requested by NTMWD.
  • Initiate a rate surcharge for all water use over a certain level.
  • Prohibit watering of golf courses using treated water, except as needed to keep greens and tee boxes alive.
Limit landscape watering with sprinklers or irrigation systems between November 1 and March 31 to once every two weeks.



Last Digit of Address Allowed Landscape Water Day Schedule
Prohibit outdoor watering from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Retail, Business, Industrial and Commercial Customers Monday
Residential even addresses (Includes Duplexes, Town homes, And Apartments) Tuesday
Schools, Places of Worship, Parks, Designated Open Space, Medians Right-of- Way and other Non-Residential Thursday
Residential odd addresses (Includes Duplexes, Town homes, And Apartments) Friday
No weekend sprinklers