LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
With warm temperatures continuing and still no rain in the forecast for San Antonio, it's likely the city will enter into Stage Two water restrictions soon.
According to the San Antonio Water System website, a Stage Two alert begins when the aquifer level reaches 650 feet mean sea level at the J-17 well -- the index well in Bexar County.
All Joint Base San Antonio properties are presently under Stage I restrictions.
The current aquifer level is reading at 655.6 feet as of Thursday, according to the Edwards Aquifer Authority J-17 Live Well Data website.
For residential and commercial customers of the San Antonio Water System and the Bexar Metropolitan Water District, the rules during a Stage II drought are more restrictive.
Landscape watering with an irrigation system or sprinkler is allowed only once a week from 3 to 8 a.m. and 8 to 10 p.m. on designated watering day as determined by your address:
- If address/facility number ends in 0 or 1, Monday is the watering day.
- If address/facility number ends in 2 or 3, Tuesday is the watering day.
- If address/facility number ends in 4 or 5, Wednesday is the watering day.
- If address/facility number ends in 6 or 7, Thursday is the watering day.
- If address/facility number ends in 8 or 9, Friday is the watering day.
Additionally, there is no watering on weekends with a sprinkler, soaker hose or irrigation system. Areas without a street address, such as medians and neighborhood entryways, water on Wednesdays.
All restrictions from Stage One remain in effect, unless added to or replaced by Stage Two rules:
- Landscape watering with an irrigation system, sprinkler or soaker hose is allowed only once a week from 3-8 a.m. and 8-10 p.m. on your designated watering day, as determined by your address.
- Watering with drip irrigation or 5-gallon bucket is permitted any day, between 3-8 a.m. and 8-10 p.m.
- Watering with a hand-held hose is allowed any time on any day.
- Use of fountains, waterfalls, or other aesthetic water features -- outdoors or indoors -- is prohibited, unless a variance has been granted for 100 percent non-potable water use.
- All non-public swimming pools must have a minimum of 25 percent of the surface area covered with evaporation screens when not in use. Inflatable pool toys or floating decorations may be used for this purpose.
- Washing impervious cover such as parking lots, driveways, streets or sidewalks is prohibited. Health and safety exceptions may be requested from SAWS in writing.
- Residential washing of vehicles or other equipment is allowed only on assigned watering days and times. A hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle or bucket of five gallons or less may be used. Water should not be allowed to run into the street.
- The use of commercial car wash facilities is allowed any day.
- Operators of golf courses, athletic fields and parks must submit a conservation plan to SAWS. For requirements, contact SAWS at 704-SAVE. Golf courses, athletic fields and parks may not irrigate between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- Hotels, motels and other lodging must offer and notify guests of a "linen/towel change on request only" program.
And don't forget to follow these year-round rules:
- Water waste is prohibited at all times. This includes lawn watering overspray and runoff.
- Restaurants may serve water only on request to reduce dishwashing.
Charity car washes are allowed only at commercial car wash facilities.
For more information on water restrictions, visit the SAWS website at http://www.saws.org.
The Joint Base San Antonio Drought Management Plan is on the 502nd Air Base Wing website at http://www.502abw.af.mil.
For further information, or to report misuse, call the base asset management flight: Lackland, 671-4844; Randolph, 652-5205; or Fort Sam Houston, 221-5063.