City Asks For Voluntary Water Conservation

GRAPELAND - Following Crockett and Houston County water districts’ mandatory water restrictions earlier this month, the city of Grapeland is asking for voluntary water conservation.

In a letter sent out to customers recently, City Superintendent Trey Job requested a 10 percent voluntary reduction on behalf of the city. He explained the request is an effort to conserve the supply and protect the integrity of public use, sanitation and fire protection.

“Although we are monitoring the aquifer weekly and are having no trouble at this time, we need to remember the Texas drought has not ended and may not for some time,” Job stated in his letter. “By having good water conservation practices in the winter it may allow us more time for watering in the spring and summer.”

Customers with addresses ending in even numbers are asked to water only on even days of the month. Customers with odd numbered addresses are requested to water on the odd days of the month. Job additionally suggested customers cut out unnecessary water use by not watering dormant grass, not using it during the hottest part of the day and shutting the faucet off when brushing teeth.

Earlier this month, Consolidated Water Supply sent letters to its customers stating outdoor water use was not permitted, unless a hose is used, from 6 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m. on even or odd days, depending on the customer’s address.

The city of Crockett also sent letters with the same rules and prohibited customers from any type of sprinklers.

Houston County Lake Water District officials previously reported to customers earlier this month the lake has about five to six feet left and asked for a 20 percent reduction.

In a report to the State Senate’s Natural Resources Committee on Oct. 25, Carlos Rubinstein, a commissioner for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, stated, “About a fifth of all public water systems in the state are under the restrictions, and 23 either have unknown water supply levels or are three to five months of running out of water.”