Drought Contingency Plan

There are four stages to address drought and emergency conditions. Each stage has triggers for initiation, for restrictions on water use to assist in reaching water use reduction goals, and has provisions for rescinding the stage once the conditions that caused the drought or emergency have ceased to exist. The stages are defined as:

Stage 1. Mild Water Shortage Conditions

It is anticipated, and it is the goal of the City, that water use during implementation of Stage 1 be reduced to less than 90% of the City’s maximum daily supply capacity.

Stage 1 of the Plan shall be implemented if any of the following conditions arise:

Maximum day water use exceeds 80% of the city’s maximum daily supply capacity for ten consecutive days.
Water supply available from all sources is only sufficient to meet projected needs.
Water availability is adequate but lake water levels, reservoir capacities, or groundwater supplies are low enough that some concern exists for future water supplies if the drought or emergency condition continues.

The following restrictions shall apply:

Landscape irrigation may occur only between the hours of 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 a.m. from April 1 - September 30.
Landscape irrigation is restricted to two (2) days per week. The City Manager, or his/her designee may, after notice to the citizens of the City of Lubbock, designate irrigation schedules.
Irrigation should provide a maximum of 1.5 inches per zone per week.
Winter irrigation may only occur when temperatures are above 35°F so as not to cause a freezing hazard and should provide a maximum of 1.0 inch per zone per month for dormant grasses (i.e., Bermuda) and 1.0 inch per zone every two weeks for cool season grasses (i.e., Fescue).
Irrigation should occur without significant water runoff, which can be accomplished by correctly cycling the sprinkler system and allowing time for the water to soak into the landscape between irrigation events.
All City of Lubbock operations will adhere to the water use restrictions.
Hand watering for landscape irrigation purposes is allowed on a daily basis regardless of the time of the year.
New plant material may be irrigated on a more frequent basis until the new plant material is established.

Stage 2 – Moderate Water Shortage Conditions

It is anticipated, and it is the goal of the City, that water use during implementation of Stage 2 be reduced to less than 80% of the City’s maximum daily supply capacity.

Stage 2 of the Plan shall be implemented if any of the following conditions arise:

Maximum day water use exceeds 90% of the City’s maximum daily supply capacity for ten consecutive days.
Water supplies available from all sources are reduced by 5% to 10% below projected needs.
Water availability from lakes and groundwater is below normal and may continue to decline and cause moderate concern for both current and future water supplies; or water supplies have been reduced due to the failure of a water supply system.

The following restrictions shall apply:

Landscape irrigation may occur only between the hours of 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 a.m. from April 1 - September 30.
Landscape irrigation is restricted to one day per week. The City Manager, or his/her designee, after notice to the citizens of the City, may designate an irrigation schedule.
Irrigation shall provide a maximum of 1.5 inches per zone per week.
Winter irrigation may only occur when temperatures are above 35°F so as not to cause a freezing hazard and shall provide a maximum of 1.0 inch per zone per month for dormant grasses (i.e., Bermuda) and 1.0 inch per zone every two weeks for cool season grasses (i.e., Fescue).
Irrigation shall occur without significant water runoff, which can be accomplished by correctly cycling the sprinkler system and allowing time for the water to soak into the landscape between irrigation events.
Water customers will refrain from or significantly limit aesthetic and non-essential water use. Water shall not be used to wash down hard surfaced areas, including without limitation, sidewalks, parking lots, gutters and patios. Water shall not be used for dust control. However, water may be used for road construction or to clean surfaces for painting. Pools and Jacuzzi type pools may not be drained and refilled.
All City of Lubbock operations will adhere to the water use restrictions.
Hand watering for landscape irrigation purposes is allowed on a daily basis regardless of the time of the year.
New plant material may be irrigated on a more frequent basis until the new plant material is established.

Stage 3 – Severe Water Shortage Conditions

It is anticipated, and it is the goal of the City, that water use during implementation of Stage 3 be reduced to less than 70% of the City’s maximum daily supply capacity.

Stage 3 of the Plan shall be implemented if any of the following conditions arise:

Maximum day water use exceeds 100% of the City’s maximum daily supply capacity for five consecutive days.
Water supplies available from all sources are reduced down by 10% or more below projected needs.
Water availability from lakes and groundwater is well below normal, continue to decline and additional reductions in current or future water supplies are evident; or water supplies have been reduced due to the failure of one or more water supply systems.

The following restrictions shall apply:

Irrigation shall occur without significant water runoff, which can be accomplished by correctly cycling the sprinkler system and allowing time for the water to soak into the landscape between irrigation events.
Landscape irrigation shall not occur more than one day per month and not for more than 1.5 inch per zone. The City Manager, or his/her designee, may designate the irrigation schedule.
Use of water from fire hydrants shall be limited to fire fighting or other related activities necessary to maintain public health, safety and welfare. Under the direction of the City Manager, use of water from fire hydrants for construction purposes may be allowed by permit.
All City of Lubbock operations will adhere to the water use restrictions.
Hand watering for landscape irrigation purposes is allowed on a daily basis regardless of the time of the year.

Stage 4 – Emergency Water Shortage Conditions

It is anticipated, and it is the goal of the City, that water use during implementation of Stage 4 be reduced to less than 50% of the City’s maximum daily supply capacity or the emergency situation has been corrected.

Stage 4 of the Plan shall be implemented if any of the following conditions arise:

Maximum day water use exceeds 105% of the City’s maximum daily supply capacity for five consecutive days.
Water supplies available from all sources are reduced by 30% or more below projected needs.
There has been a failure in a major water supply source or system, such as the failure of a dam, storage reservoir, pumping system, transmission pipeline, water treatment facility, major power failure, natural disaster that causes a severe and prolonged limit on the ability of the water supply system to meet the water supply demands.

The following restrictions shall apply:

All aesthetic and non-essential water use, including landscape irrigation use, is prohibited, except where necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. No new landscape material may be installed.
All City of Lubbock operations will adhere to the water use restrictions.
The City of Lubbock may reduce water system pressure to conserve water.

Water Department

Drought Contingency Plan