The City of Katy triggered Stage 1 of its Water Conservation Plan on Friday, Aug. 21, citing rising water pumpage and what the city called ongoing high heat with no rain in sight.
The activation means Katy water customers are asked to voluntarily cut usage by 5 percent. No mandatory watering schedule is in place yet, but the city warned that failing to conserve now could push the system into stricter, enforceable stages.
The stakes are real.
Two days before the formal activation, the city posted a public alert on Facebook on Wednesday, Aug. 19, warning that water pumpage was climbing and urging residents to cut back voluntarily.
What residents should do
Under Stage 1, the city is asking customers to:
- Water lawns and landscaping only between midnight and 8 a.m. or between 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m.
- Hold off on draining and refilling swimming pools.
- Report leaks and dripping sprinkler heads to Public Works.
- Skip non-essential water use such as pressure washing and car washing.
The city said it activated the plan because water pumpage continues to rise during ongoing high heat, according to its official announcement on Instagram.
What happens if conservation falls short
Katy's Drought Contingency Plan, developed under Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Texas Water Development Board guidelines, has four escalating stages. If voluntary efforts don't bring pumpage down, the city can move to Stage 2, which would impose a mandatory three-days-per-week watering schedule based on address number. Even-numbered homes would water Monday, Wednesday and Saturday; odd-numbered homes on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
Stage 3 would tighten that to two days per week, with fines ranging from $100 to $2,000 per violation and possible water service disconnection. Stage 4, the emergency level, limits watering to one day per week with fines for repeat violations ranging from $200 to $2,000 per incident.
The city has not announced what specific pumpage threshold would trigger a move to Stage 2, noting only that administration reviews the plan after measurable rainfall and makes that determination as needed.
Who this applies to
Stage 1 restrictions apply only to City of Katy water service customers. Residents served by a Municipal Utility District should check with their specific MUD for any separate conservation updates.
Residents can track their daily water usage through the city's FlexNet Water Meter System online portal, which allows customers to set alerts for high usage.
Questions can be directed to Public Works at 281-391-4820 or [email protected]. Full details on the Drought Contingency Plan are available at cityofkaty.com/water-conservation.
