Beginning in January, the city of Mesquite, Texas, will implement several year-round water conservation measures that will govern water usage even if there is no official drought. These changes are part of the city’s water conservation and drought contingency plan.
The three major changes begin with car washing. Anyone who washes his or her car in Mesquite must use a water control nozzle so that the water flow can be shut off when it’s not being used to rinse off the vehicle.
Residents, property owners and managers who have an irrigation system must make sure that the system works properly at all times. According to the city, a malfunctioning irrigation system includes a system where sprinkler heads are broken, lines are broken or any other system damage that results in water waste.
In addition, watering landscaping will be prohibited during the hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April 1 to Oct. 31 each year.
According to the city, fines could reach up to $2,000 or the water customer could lose his or her water service or both.
However, Greg Sowell, city spokesman, noted that “either of those alternatives would only be enacted in extreme cases of negligence or defiance of the ordinance.”
In the meantime, the city will begin a public outreach program to educate citizens about the coming changes.
In a written statement, the city noted that “Mesquite's water conservation ordinance falls in line with new state legislation which requires cities with a population of at least 20,000 o license installers of irrigation systems. It also requires a city to regulate the design, installation, and operation of irrigation systems.”