Water Wise Denton

We are so excited to be able to lift Stage 2 restrictions! The lifting of the restrictions has come with a few questions, we are sharing some FAQs below that may be helpful for everyone:

1. Does this mean I can go back to watering when I want?

There is still a no more than twice per week irrigation schedule in place. This schedule is year round and will not ever increase beyond two days.

2. Do I still have to water before 10am or after 6pm?

No, the 10am-6pm blackout period is only in effect from June 1st - Sept 30th. Since we are in October, you may water at anytime on your designated day.

3. My neighbor is watering daily, how do I get them to stop?

There is a good chance your neighbor may not know about the irrigation schedule. We always encourage conversation between neighbors, but if you are not comfortable having that conversation you can report water waste on Engage Denton https://dentontx.citysourced.com/

4. If I report my neighbor on Engage Denton will they get a citation?

Our goal is to educate and correct behavior. Citations will not increase the amount of water we have. When we are informed of water waste, we reach out and let the customer know the rules, how they have violated the rules and offer solutions on how to get into compliance.

5. What if i want to establish turf, apply pre-emergents, or install new plantings that require more than twice per week irrigation?

Reach out to us at conservewater@cityofdenton.com with your specific request

We are VERY close to being able to lift Stage 2 restrictions. Hang in there and thank you for your continued patience.

We are working to roll out some exciting conservation assistance programs in the next 2 weeks. Stay tuned for more information!

UPDATE: September 17, 2024 - Although repairs to the second filter at the Lake Lewisville treatment facility were expected to be completed by mid-September, the City has been informed that the filter will not be back in service until early October. The contractor has identified additional repairs needed to fully restore the filter. Once the second filter is operational and full treatment capacity is restored, we anticipate being able to lift Stage 2 conservation measures and resume our normal twice-a-week watering schedule. The City will notify residents across its communication platforms once this occurs.

Replacement work is continuing to take place on the second filter, we still estimate the completion date to be the week of September 16th. At which point Stage 2 will be lifted and we can resume the regular twice-per week irrigation schedule.

Thank you to the public for reaching out to us with Stage 2 restriction questions. We have some FAQ's we hope you will find helpful.

1. Can I still water my foundation?

Yes! Foundations may be watered between 6pm and 10am with a soaker hose, provided that the soaker hose is properly maintained and not creating runoff. You may still water foundations any day of the week at this time. We request that property owners conserve and only water foundations when absolutely necessary.

2. Can i still use my drip irrigation / bubbler/ soaker hose.

Yes! Properly maintained drip/ bubbler and soaker systems do not create runoff, nor do they waste water due to evaporative loss. You may continue to use these systems after 6pm and before 10 am. You may still water foundations any day of the week at this time; we request that property owners conserve and only run these systems when necessary.

3. Can I Hand-water?

Hand watering plants is not considered part of the irrigation restrictions. You may hand water as needed, provided that handwatering does not create run-off waste.

4. Do hose end sprinklers count as irrigation.?

Yes, if it sprinklers it is considered irrigation.

5. I let my grass follow its natural cycle of summer dormancy, and i normally dont irrigate in the summer. Why are you forcing me to water if we are in a Drought situation?

You do not have to irrigate at all! Irrigating on your irrigation day is completely optional.

5. How do I report water waste?

We always encourage conversation between community members whenever possible, Some people still may not be aware that we have entered Stage 2 restrictions. If it is not possible to have a conversation, please let us know on Engage Denton, located at https://dentontx.citysourced.com/ and we will reach out to the property owner.

Stage 2 drought begins at on the 3rd consecutive day of customer demand hitting 90% of our treatment capacity. At this time, 90% of our treatment capacity is 38 Million Gallons. Yesterday we used about 38.2 Million Gallons. Reduction in use today will help us hit the reset button so that we do not have to implement stage 2 restrictions.

With the new watering restrictions and our recent capacity challenges, it’s important to highlight ways that Denton Water Utilities is working to meet our water current and future water supply needs. Today we’re highlighting reclaimed water, also known as recycled water, or reuse water. After wastewater is cleaned at our local Pecan Creek Water Reclamation Plant, the resulting effluent can either be returned to the local system of creeks and lakes that it was pumped out of, or it can be chlorinated and pumped into a separate distribution system for non-drinking water uses. The City of Denton has over 5 miles of such pipes, delivering reclaimed water to several customers for uses such as irrigation, car washing, and power plant cooling tower make-up water. By sourcing reclaimed water for these needs, our reuse customers took a load off the regular drinking water distribution system, helping keep our numbers below drought triggering thresholds. These were not small numbers either! See the below chart to compare potable numbers to reuse numbers. Many days saw over 1 million gallons of reuse. As Denton continues to grow, we’re working to grow the reclaimed water system with it, leaving more water in our reservoirs, and saving treatment capacity at our water production plants. Learn more about the city’s reuse program at our website https://www.cityofdenton.com/1061/Reuse-Water#:~:text=Today%2C%20City%20of%20Denton%20Water,water%20were%20distributed%20to%20customers.

Due to reduced water treatment capacity and increases in water usages, our city is nearing Stage 2 of our drought contingency plan.

What does Stage 2 Drought mean?

Stage 2 Drought means that water conservation measures must be increased to ensure sustainable usage throughout our community. One of the key changes involves the regulation of outdoor irrigation, which will be limited to watering their lawns a one day per week. This measure is crucial to preserving our water resources during this challenging period.

Compliance and Support:

We understand the importance of maintaining landscapes and gardens, especially during warmer months. However, by adhering to these restrictions, we can collectively reduce water consumption and help mitigate the impacts of drought on our environment and community.

Additional Conservation Tips:

• Check for Leaks: Regularly inspect faucets, sprinklers, and hoses for leaks and repair them promptly.
• Use Efficient Fixtures: Install water-saving devices such as low-flow showerheads and faucets.
• Water Wisely: Water outdoor plants early in the morning or late in the evening to minimize evaporation.

Stay Informed:

As we continue to monitor our water supply closely, we will keep you updated on any further developments or changes to our conservation efforts. Your cooperation and commitment to water conservation are greatly appreciated during this time.

Get Involved:

We encourage everyone to join us in preserving our precious water resources. Together, we can make a significant impact on ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

We are continuing to work through a reduced capacity situation.During this time, we called our higher irrigation users. These users are naturally the highest volumes, because they have the largest areas to irrigate. Through their efforts and creative solutions we have been able to reduce consumption to a level below drought stage triggers.

URGENT CONSERVATION REQUEST! We have hit the second day in a row of Drought Triggers, as demand has exceeded 85% of our capacity. Please conserve. NO Residential addresses should be watering today, based on the irrigation schedule. We urge all apartments and businesses to limit irrigation today. If we continue to hit drought triggers, we will have to begin to implement Stage 1 Drought Restrictions.