The Lower Neches Valley Authority has declared a "Stage II - Moderate Water Shortage Condition" for Southeast Texas. In this stage 2 declaration they are requesting all Southeast Texans reduce their water usage by at least 30 percent immediately in a goal to conserve water.
LNVA hopes the conservation will lead to protection and greater availability of the water supply for domestic use, sanitation, fire protection and public health.
The stage two declaration has been issued due to the United States Corps of Engineers releasing the information that Sam Rayburn Reservoir has entered a zone three conservation pool on Jan 10.
According to a LNVA press release, these are the steps it will take to ensure the conservation of Southeast Texas water:
- Advise its customers by mail and/or by telephone.
- Evaluate the need to curtail or discontinue the delivery of water for non-essential uses.
- Request its municipal customers implement voluntary conservation measures including restriction of lawn irrigation, car washing, filling of swimming pools, etc. The LNVA will use the news media to inform the general public of the need to limit non-essential water use.
- Request its industrial customers evaluate water conservation practices in order to minimize process water use to the extent feasible and to encourage basic water conservation practices among employees.
- Request that irrigation customers monitor the condition of field levees, laterals, drains and other water delivery facilities to prevent wasting of water.
The LNVA will end this declaration once Sam Rayburn Reservoir has gone above the zone three level for 30 consecutive days. That statement will be dispersed via the media including KBMT 12 News ABC/NBC.
Drought conditions are rampant across the entire Lone Star state except for a small area near Texarkana.
Drought areas are rated on a six tier system from no drought to "exceptional" drought. The Lakes region is considered to be abnormally dry while the Golden Triangle is in a "moderate" drought.
However, the situation to our west is considerably worse as drought levels are "extreme" and "exceptional" in a large area including and surrounding San Antonio.
Winter is traditionally the wettest period in Southeast Texas. If the rain doesn't fall in the next 45 days, it could be until late Autumn until we see decent rainfall numbers.