Drought Contingency Plan and Water Conservation

While there is currently no water shortage, the City of Bellaire has a Drought Contingency Plan in place should a drought occur due to nature or some other event require emergency water rationing.

The City of Bellaire Drought Contingency Plan has 4 Stages. Currently, the city is in: Stage 1 - Annual Drought and Conservation Awareness Campaign

The 4 stages:

Stage 1 - Annual Drought and Conservation Awareness Campaign

From May 1 through October 31 of each year, the City of Bellaire seeks to increase customer awareness of water conservation and encourage the most efficient use of water.

Stage 2 - Mild Water Shortage Conditions

When Average Daily Water Usage reaches 65% of safe distribution capacity for 3 consecutive days, water customers are requested to voluntarily limit the irrigation of landscaped areas to even-numbered days for customers with a street address ending in an even number, and odd-numbered days for water customers with a street address ending in an odd number, and to irrigate landscapes only between the hours of 12 - 3 a.m., and 9 p.m. - 12 a.m. on designated watering days.

Stage 3 - Moderate Water Shortage Conditions

When Average Daily Water Usage reaches 70% of safe distribution capacity for 3 consecutive days, the following mandatory lawn-watering schedule shall be implemented. Customers with even numbered addresses may water on Sundays and Thursdays. Customers with odd numbered addresses may water on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Watering shall occur only between the hours of 12 - 3 a.m., and 9 p.m. - 12 a.m. on designated watering days.

Stage 4 - Severe Water Shortage Conditions

When Average Daily Water Usage reaches 80% of safe distribution capacity for 2 consecutive days, the city will ban the use of water not essential for public health or safety including: Watering lawns and shrubs, street washing, washing driveways and automobiles, water hydrant flushing, filling swimming pools, athletic field watering.

After 5 consecutive days of water usage below the triggering factors of the Stage, the Drought Contingency Plan reverts to the previous Stage.

Your cooperation will help to ensure that water supplies are maintained at maximum levels and prevent the need to impose more restrictive measures to conserve water.