New ordinances for water conservation are in now in effect for residents and businesses in Georgetown. The ordinances are an effort by city leaders to conserve the available treated drinking water. All property types across the entire City of Georgetown Water Utility will be affected, the city said.
“Georgetown is located in an area of Texas that is prone to droughts,” Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “By focusing on water conservation, the city can help to ensure there is enough water to meet the needs of its residents and businesses, even during times of drought.”
Changes include updates to water use restrictions when the city is not in Drought Contingency (the City is currently in drought stage 2), a new fee structure, developer requirements, inspection requirements for commercial and HOA irrigation systems, and new watering timeframes for all irrigation methods. Drip, soaker hoses, and hose-end sprinklers also must adhere to the new set times for irrigation, but watering by hand will still be allowed on any day.
The new ordinance also includes updated watering schedules across all drought phases, as well as times where the City of Georgetown is not in a stage of drought contingency.
New DCP 2 Watering Schedule
(The City of Georgetown is currently in this phase)
| Automatic Irrigation Systems, Soaker Hoses, Drip and Hose-End Sprinklers | ||
| Last digit of property street address | Allowed watering day(s) | Allowed watering hours
|
| 1 | Tuesday | Midnight-7 a.m.
7 p.m.-Midnight |
| 2 or 6 | Wednesday | Midnight-7 a.m.
7 p.m.-Midnight |
| 0 | Thursday | Midnight-7 a.m.
7 p.m.-Midnight |
| 5 or 9 | Friday | Midnight-7 a.m.
7 p.m.-Midnight |
| 4 or 8 | Saturday | Midnight-7 a.m.
7 p.m.-Midnight |
| 3 or 7 | Sunday | Midnight-7 a.m.
7 p.m.-Midnight |
|
|
Monday | None |
Developers, builders, and irrigation-system installers will now be required to provide instructions on the irrigation system’s design and functionality. Additionally, they must provide information to homeowners on where to find the city’s watering schedule and how to properly maintain their irrigation systems.
Council also approved an automatic irrigation system audit ordinance that requires homeowner associations and nonresidential customers to have irrigation systems inspected every two years.
According to the change, customers will receive a courtesy notice upon their first violations. They will then have ten days to make the necessary changes to coming into compliance with city code. If there is no proof of change provided, a violation will be issued.
Residential Violation Structure
| Single Family Residential Violations | 1st Occurrence | 2nd occurrence in 12 month Period | 3rd occurrence in 12 month period | 4th occurrence in 12 month period | 5th and subsequent occurrence(s) in 12 month period |
| Non-DCP | Courtesy Notice | $50 | $75 | $100 | $250 |
| DCP1 | Courtesy Notice | $50 | $75 | $250 | $400 |
| DCP2 | Courtesy Notice | $75 | $150 | $300 | $450 |
| DCP3 | Courtesy Notice | $150 | $300 | $450 | $600 |
| DCP4 | Courtesy Notice | $200 | $350 | $500 | $650 |
| Administrative Hearing Cost | N/A | $25 or 10% of fee | $25 or 10% of fee | $25 or 10% of fee | $25 or 10% of fee |
Non-Residential Violation Structure
| Non-Single Family Residential Violations | 1st Occurrencer | 2nd Occurrence in 12 month Period | 3rd Occurrence in 12 month period | 4th Occurrence in 12 month period | 5th and subsequent occurrence(s) in 12 month period |
| Non-DCP | Courtesy Notice | $250 | $400 | $500 | $750 |
| DCP1 | Courtesy Notice | $250 | $400 | $500 | $750 |
| DCP2 | Courtesy Notice | $500 | $600 | $800 | $800 |
| DCP3 | Courtesy Notice | $750 | $750 | $750 | $750 |
| DCP4 | Courtesy Notice | $800 | $800 | $800 | $800 |
| Administrative Hearing Cost | N/A | $25 or 10% of fee | $25 or 10% of fee | $25 or 10% of fee | $25 or 10% of fee |
