HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9572 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9572
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council July 16, 2013
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SUBJECT: DROUGHT RESPONSE OBLIGATIONS
The purpose of this report is to inform the Mayor and City Council of the City's drought response
obligations. There is not a specific requirement in the contract between the City of Fort Worth and the
Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) for the supply of raw water, which obligates the City to
incorporate the TRWD's drought plans or responses. However, the City is required by the State to
submit a drought contingency plan (Texas Administrative Code Title 30, Chapter 288, Subchapter B).
The state regulation requires coordination with regional water planning groups (Region C Water
Planning Group) and raw water suppliers (TRWD). These plans must include a description of the
information to be monitored by the water supplier, specific criteria for initiation and termination of
drought response stages, and supply and demand management measures, such as twice per week
watering. The City of Fort Worth and all other TRWD customers have coordinated with TRWD in its
Drought Contingency and Emergency Water Management Plan to meet the requirements of this
statute.
The City Council last adopted an amended Drought Contingency and Emergency Water Management
Plan ("Plan") on May 21, 2013 by Ordinance No. 20759-05-2013, codified in Section 35-23 of the City
Code. The Plan specifically states that "the stages imposed by TRWD must be initiated by the City".
This includes the identified triggers for each drought stage, as well as, highlighting a twice per week
watering schedule as the main measure for reducing water use during Stage 1. A twice per week
watering schedule was chosen as an effective measure to reduce water consumption implemented
during Stage 1 of the Drought Plan. This schedule offers residential customers one week day and one
weekend day in which they may water. Furthermore, the schedule allows the water system adequate
time to manage the draining and refilling of storage tanks when the demand is spread out as the twice
per week schedule provides.
A voluntary twice per week schedule is not recommended during a drought because the goals of the
Drought Contingency and Emergency Water Management Plan call for immediate reductions in water
consumption. The triggers in the plan were carefully evaluated for determining when the plan is
implemented, and it is imperative that the goals be met to stave off subsequent drought stages.
Consistent water reduction measures also help with regional messaging. Currently, Stage 1 means
the same thing in Fort Worth as it does for Mansfield, Arlington and all other cities in the Tarrant
County area. Staff is also working with TRWD, Dallas Water Utilities, and North Texas Municipal
Water District to further develop a broader, regional approach where all cities within the Metroplex will
have similar drought plans to ensure consistent messaging and broader compliance.
Should you have any questions about the Drought Contingency and Emergency Water Management
Plan, please contract Water Director Frank Crumb at 817-392-8246.
Tom Higgins
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS