Los Fresnos on Wednesday implemented Stage 3 water restrictions when the amount of water stored in the Falcon and Amistad reservoirs on the Rio Grande fell below 25% of capacity.
Implementation of the restrictions for demand reduction came in the form of a letter from Mayor Alejandro Flores to the citizens of Los Fresnos, calling on all persons to immediately begin abiding by the following guidelines provided by the city and under threat of penalty:
Irrigation of landscaped areas shall be limited to the following designated watering days between the hours of 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. and shall be by means of hand-held hoses, hand-held buckets, drip irrigation, or permanently installed automatic sprinkler system only.
>> Monday and Friday: water customers on the south side of Ocean Boulevard (State Hwy. 100).
>> Tuesday and Saturday: water customers on the north side of Ocean Boulevard (State Hwy. 100).
>> No landscape irrigation allowed on Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday.
>> The use of hose-end sprinklers is prohibited at all times.
>> Use of water to wash any motor vehicle, trucks, trailers, boats, airplanes, and other mobile equipment will be prohibited except on the landscape watering days and times described above. Such washing, when allowed, shall be done with a hand-held bucket or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shutoff nozzle for quick rinses. Vehicle washing may be done at any time on the immediate premises of a commercial car wash or commercial service station. Further, such washing may be exempted from these regulations if the health, safety, and welfare of the public is contingent upon frequent vehicle cleansing, such as garbage trucks and vehicles used to transport food and perishables.
>> Use of water to fill, refill, or add to any indoor or outdoor swimming pools, wading pools, or Jacuzzi-type pools is prohibited except on designated watering days between the hours of 12 midnight and 10 a.m. and between 8 p.m. and 12 midnight.
>> The following uses of water are defined as non-essential and are prohibited: a. Wash down of any sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts, or other hard-surfaced areas; b. Use of water to wash down buildings or structures for purposes other than immediate fire protection; c. Use of water for dust control; d. Flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street; and e. Failure to repair a controllable leak(s) within a reasonable period after having been given notice directing the repair of such leak(s).
>> Commercial nurseries and other similar establishment must accomplish watering with hand-held buckets, watering cans, or drip/sprinkler irrigation systems between the hours of 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.
>> Defective plumbing in a home or business is prohibited.
>> Operation of any ornamental fountain or pond for aesthetic or scenic purposes is prohibited except where necessary to support aquatic life or where such fountains or ponds are equipped with a recirculation system.
>> Landscape irrigation variances are available but customers need to apply in person, mail, facsimile, or email with their name, address, where the new landscape is to be installed, and the date of installation.
>> Use of water from hydrants shall be limited to firefighting, related activities, or other activities necessary to maintain public health, safety, and welfare, except the use of water from designated fire hydrants for construction purposes may be allowed under special permit from the City of Los Fresnos.
