Wichita Falls Officials Say It's Time to 'Get Serious' about Water Usage
By: Lindsey Wopschall
Updated: January 15, 2013
The lakes are low and Wichita Falls city officials say it's time to get serious. Daniel Nix, Wichita Falls City Operations Manager said, "I think you need to be aware, I think you need to be concerned, and I think you should be educated."
Soon city officials could declare a drought emergency which would begin stage 3 drought restrictions, which has never happened before.
And when stage 3 restrictions take effect this is what you can expect:
-Car dealers will only be able to wash cars during the day designated in the water rationing zone map.
-Car washes must close down shop one day a week.
-Golf courses will only be allowed to water their greens and tee-boxes
restaurants and bars will no longer be able to thaw food with water.
-And for folks at home will continue to stick to your day watering in accordance with the water rationing zone map, but your time for water will be limited.
-Automatic sprinkler systems will only be able to be used from midnight to 5 a.m. And hand watering can only be done from 8 pm to midnight.
It's the city's hope that these restrictions will reduce the total use of water by 35 percent. And while the city is gearing up for stage 3 they are even looking ahead in case things get even worse.
"I hope we don't get to stage 4 but we are planning for stage four," Nix said.
And city officials say if weather patterns continue they expect the stage 3 restrictions to take effect in the next couple weeks.
