By Josh Carter
August 8, 2022
DESOTO, Texas – Residents of Desoto are being instructed to continue to conserve water as the city will implement stage two of its drought contingency plan according to a press release.
The city is implementing the plan due to persistent drought conditions in the state that has lasted for more than 14 days.
According to stage two of the drought contingency plan, recreational outside water usage without the installation of a required shut off nozzle on all outside water hoses is prohibited. Residents may only water during the posted watering schedule.
Residents are to limit water usage for their lawns to once every five days indicated by the watering schedule posted by the city.
In addition to watering once every five days, residents are instructed to water between 5:00 A.M. and 9:00 A.M. and between 7:00 P.M. and 11:00 P.M.
Residents will be able to water on days based on the last digit of their street address. The following watering schedule shows which days residents will be allowed to water depending on the last digit of their street address.
Some of the restrictions of the stage two drought contingency plan include the outside washing of resident’s homes, windows/siding, driveways, vehicles, boats, and trailers, however, residents are allowed to use handheld buckets and handheld water hoses equipped with positive pressure shut off nozzles.
Homes with indoor or outdoor swimming pools or jacuzzi type pools will be restricted to the watering schedule and the city will also be limiting nonessential water uses in public landscaping.
Other non-essential water uses that are prohibited under Stage two restrictions include washing down sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts, or other hard-surfaced areas; using water for dust control; operating an ornamental fountain or pond that is not designed to recirculate water and hosing down buildings or structures unless there is a fire protection benefit.
The City of DeSoto would like to remind its residents and businesses it has the ability to monitor water usage and will be checking for improper and excessive usage. Violators could face fines of up to two thousand dollars for each offense.
According to the press release, stage two compliance will remain in effect until further notice and if more severe drought complications persist the city will implement stage three and possibly stage four water restrictions.
The plan took effect Thursday, August 4, and residents are encouraged to call City Hall at 972-230-9600 for any questions and information or visit http://www.desototexas.gov/.
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