FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
The 10-day average of the Bexar County index well J-17 has
dropped below 650 feet mean sea level as of Friday. Stage 2 water restrictions
for all Joint Base San Antonio locations is triggered when the J-17 drops below
650 feet.
The J-17 well serves as the official well for recording
groundwater elevations in the San
Antonio Pool of the Edwards
Aquifer, according to the Edwards Aquifer Authority website
(http://www.edwardsaquifer.org).
The JBSA Base Civil Engineer declared Stage 2 water
restrictions effective immediately, in accordance with the current JBSA
Critical Period Management Plan and Biological Opinion issued by the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service.
The biological opinion limits JBSA’s water draw from the
Edwards Aquifer in order to protect eight endangered species which live in the
aquifer and its associated springs. These species can only survive when aquifer
levels and spring flows are adequately maintained.
The restrictions within Stage 2 facing base residents and
personnel are substantial and all must comply with the JBSA Critical Period
Management Plan.
All the Stage 1 restrictions in addition to Stage 2 water
restrictions are in place:
• Continue practices from Stage 1, except as noted or
replaced by Stage 2 rules.
• Landscape watering with an irrigation system, sprinkler or
soaker hose is allowed only once a week from 7-11 a.m. and 7-11 p.m. on your
designated watering day, as determined by your address or facility number.
• Watering with drip irrigation or five-gallon bucket is
permitted any day, but only between 7-11 a.m. and 7-11 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.
Installation of new landscape plantings or turf is
prohibited unless included in contract deliverables, required to repair damage
resulting from maintenance or construction actions, or authorized by the base
civil engineer.
• Irrigation of new turf or landscape outside of the allowed
times requires base civil engineer approval. Irrigation of athletic fields is
permitted only as required to maintain the turf viability/safety. Athletic
fields may water between the hours of 3-8 a.m. and 8-10 p.m. once per week on
the days from Table 2. Government vehicle washing allowed twice a month, during
the first (full) and third weeks.
In Stage 2, the watering days are as follows if
address/facility number ends in: 0 or 1, Monday; 2 or 3, Tuesday; 4 or 5,
Wednesday; 6 or 7, Thursday and 8 or 9, Friday.
All water restriction measures and details are listed in the
JBSA Critical Period Management Plan available at
www.jbsa.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-130809-013.pdf.
JBSA personnel should not confuse the JBSA water
restrictions with the SAWS restriction levels. The JBSA water restrictions are
more stringent and begin sooner than SAWS restrictions.
Contact the JBSA water conservation manager at 671-5337 for
the reporting of water abusers. Those found not abiding with the JBSA Critical
Period Management Plan may face potential disciplinary measures. Reports will
remain anonymous.