The Brown County Water Improvement District #1 (BCWID) is sticking with Stage 3 water restrictions for another month, but encouraged the public to conserve in outdoor watering as Stage 4 restrictions loom as the level at Lake Brownwood continues to decline.
“We are right at 13 feet below spillway level so we are actually one foot from our trigger point of 1411 (mean sea level) for Stage 4,” said BCWID General Manager Dennis Spinks. “We will achieve 1411 by the next board meeting (in August).”
Spinks recommended delaying implementation of Stage 4 restrictions until the trigger point is reached.
“This will give us and all of our wholesale customers time to formulate a plan on what Stage 4 restrictions will mean, how to enforce them, and get everyone working together on the same watering days and schedules,” Spinks said.
Currently, Stage 3 restrictions require cities and other water suppliers to cut normal water usage by 30% by implementing outdoor watering restriction to customers. Stage 4 would increase that cut to 50%, but Spinks encouraged water users in the area to try and reduce water usage now to get set for the possible increased restrictions.
“We want to try and reduce more than the 30% right now without going to Stage 4 and try to get that in place and see if we can reduce it even more,” Spinks said.
Last month, officials said that Stage 4 would likely eliminate all outdoor watering, but have since said that Stage 4 would only tighten the current restrictions and increase enforcement of restrictions. Currently, specific Stage 4 watering restrictions have not been established, but will be developed in the next month by all area water suppliers.
“We are looking to still allow the people of Brownwood and Brown County to water their trees by hand watering, water their shrubs if necessary, but to bring that usage down even more but still allow them to keep the investment that they have in some of their landscaping,” Spinks said. “I think if it doesn’t rain most people in Brown County are going to lose their lawn because at some point when we go to Stage 4, there are options still available for hand watering that we would like to see kept in place.”
If no significant rainfall comes to the area, officials expect Stage 4 restrictions to be implemented at the next meeting, and details of those restrictions will be announced around that time.
The BCWID’s next board meeting is scheduled for August 13th.
In other items addressed by the BCWID Tuesday night:
*The board approved the replacement of an AC unit at the District’s Lake Brownwood residence that is currently being leased. Estimated cost is $5200.
* The board approved the use of air boats on Lake Brownwood upon inspection by the Lake Patrol.
*The board approved a purchase price of $50,000 to MP2 Energy for the purchase of 3 acres of district land in the Camp Bowie area for a backup generator.
*The board heard preliminary budget numbers for the 2013/2014 fiscal year. The proposed budget will be $2,799,932 which is a 4.52% increase over last year. As a result, water rates are expected to increase with treated water rates going up 5.09% and untreated water rates increasing 4.60%. The board did not approve the budget or rates pending further financial and legal advice. They are expected to be approved at next board meeting.
