Drought Response Stages

DROUGHT RESPONSE STAGES

Stage 1 - Pre-Water Shortage Conditions

• The City of Mont Belvieu shall be required to to comply with the requirements and restrictions on certain nonessential water uses when the average combined pumpage for the City of Mont Belvieu's wells are at or above 60% for five consecutive days.
• The City of Mont Belvieu will reduce water demand by discontinuing the flushing of water mains, reducing irrigation of public landscaped areas and reducing splash pad availability.

Stage 2 - Moderate Water Shortage Conditions

• Customers shall be required to comply with the requirements and restrictions on certain nonessential water uses when the average combined pumpage for the City of Mont Belvieu's wells are at or above 70% for five consecutive days.
• The following water use restrictions shall apply to all persons as a voluntary program: 
  • Irrigation of landscaped areas with hose-end sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems shall be limited mornings before 10 a.m. and evenings after 8 p.m. unless by means of a hand-held hose, a faucet filled bucket or watering can of five (5) gallons or less, or drip irrigation system.  
  • Use of water to wash any type of vehicle shall be limited to necessity only. Vehicle washing may be done at any time on the immediate premises of a commercial car wash or commercial service station. Further, such washing may be exempted from these regulations if the health, safety, and welfare of the public is contingent upon frequent vehicle cleansing, such as garbage trucks and vehicles used to transport food and perishables.  
  • Use of water to fill, refill, or add to any indoor or outdoor swimming pools, wading pools, Jacuzzi type pools shall be limited to maintaining levels necessary for pump usage.
  • Operation of any ornamental fountain or pond for aesthetic or scenic purposes is prohibited except where necessary to support aquatic life or where such fountains or ponds are equipped with a recirculation system.
  • Use of water from hydrants shall be limited to fire-fighting, related activities, or other activities necessary to maintain public health, safety, and welfare, except that use of water from designated fire hydrants for construction purposes may be allowed under special permit from the City of Mont Belvieu.
  • All restaurants are requested to only serve water to patrons upon request of the patron.
  • Customers are requested to repair a controllable leak(s) within a reasonable period after having been given notice directing the repair of such leak(s)
  • The following uses of water are defined as non-essential and are requested to be ceased:  
    • wash down of any sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts, or other hard surfaced areas;
    • use of water to wash down buildings or structures for purposes other than immediate fire protection; 
    • use of water for dust control
    • flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street

Stage 3 - Severe Water Shortage Conditions

• Customers shall be required to comply with the requirements and restrictions on certain nonessential water uses when the average combined pumpage for the City of Mont Belvieu's wells are at or above 80% for five consecutive days.
• Under threat of penalty for violation, all water use restrictions of Stage 1 and 2 shall become mandatory.

Stage 4 - Critical Water Shortage

• Customers shall be required to comply with the requirements and restrictions on certain nonessential water uses when the average combined pumpage for the City of Mont Belvieu's wells are at or above 85% for five consecutive days.
• Under threat of penalty for violation, all requirements of Stage 1, 2, and 3 shall remain in effect during Stage 4 except: 
  • Irrigation of landscaped areas with hose-end sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems shall be limited to Sundays and Thursdays for customers with a street address ending in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6 or 8), and Saturdays and Wednesdays for water customers with a street address ending in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9), and irrigation of landscaped areas is further limited to mornings before 10 a.m. and evenings after 8 p.m However, irrigation of landscaped areas is permitted at any time if it is by means of a hand-held hose, a faucet filled bucket or watering can of five (5) gallons or less, or drip irrigation system.    
  • Use of water to wash any motor vehicle, motorbike, boat, trailer, airplane or other vehicle not occurring on the premises of a commercial car wash and commercial service stations and not in the immediate: interest of public health, safety, and welfare is prohibited. Further, such vehicle washing at commercial car washes and commercial service stations shall occur only in mornings before 10 a.m. and in the evenings after 6 p.m.
  • The filling, refilling, or adding of water to swimming pools, wading pools, and Jacuzzi-type pools is prohibited.
  • Operation of any ornamental fountain or pond for aesthetic or scenic purposes is prohibited except where necessary to support aquatic life

Stage 5 - Emergency Water Shortage

• Customers shall be required to comply with the water allocation plan when the average pumpage for the City of Mont Belvieu's wells are (a) at or above 90% for five consecutive days. (b) or water system failures have created a condition that is an imminent threat to health, safety and welfare of the public. 
• All requirements of Stage 1, 2, 3, and 4 shall remain in effect during Stage 5 except: 
  • Irrigation of landscaped areas is absolutely prohibited. 

• Use of water to wash any motor vehicle, motorbike, boat, trailer, airplane or other vehicle is absolutely prohibited. 

Stage 6 - Water Allocation

• Customers shall be required to comply with the water allocation plan when the average pumpage for the City of Mont Belvieu's wells are (a) at or above 95% for five consecutive days. (b) or water system failures have created a condition that is an imminent threat to health, safety and welfare of the public.
• The allocation to residential water customers residing in a single-family dwelling shall be as follows: 

  Persons per Household	Gallons per Month
  1 or 2	6,000
  3 or 4	7,000
  5 or 6	8,000
  7 or more	9,000