Houston, the fourth-largest city in the United States, is facing a water crisis as a severe drought and heat wave have caused water pressure to drop and water main leaks to increase. On Tuesday, city officials announced mandatory water restrictions for the city, limiting outdoor water use to two days per week and between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. Violators may face fines of up to $2,000.
“We are in a severe drought. We have not had rain in a long time. And we don’t know when we will get significant rain again,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said at a news conference. “We’re asking people to be very mindful of their water usage and to help us conserve this precious resource.”
The city’s Public Works Department said that the drought and high temperatures have caused the soil to shrink and crack, leading to more than 3,000 water main leaks in August alone. The department is seeking contractors to help repair the leaks and asking residents to report any leaks they see.
“It’s not just a matter of fixing the leaks. It’s a matter of getting the parts, getting the materials, getting the contractors,” Public Works Director Carol Haddock said. “We’re not trying to be punitive, but we are trying to send a signal to the community that this is serious.”
The water restrictions are expected to last until the end of September or until the water pressure stabilizes, according to the mayor. The restrictions apply to all customers of Houston Water, including residential, commercial and industrial users.
The restrictions limit outdoor watering to two designated days per week based on the last digit of the street address. For example, addresses ending in 0 or 1 can water on Mondays and Thursdays, while addresses ending in 8 or 9 can water on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Outdoor watering is also prohibited between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m., except for hand watering with a hose or bucket.
The city also urged residents to conserve water indoors by taking shorter showers, fixing leaky faucets, running dishwashers and washing machines only when full, and turning off the faucet while brushing teeth or shaving.
“We’re all in this together. We all need water. We all need to do our part,” ABC13 Chief Meteorologist Travis Herzog said. “Hopefully we’ll get some rain soon, but until then, let’s be smart with our water.”
Relevant articles:
– Houston issues water restrictions due to intense heat, worsening drought, CNN, August 24, 2023
– Houston water restrictions: How much you can use, when order could end, MSN, August 25, 2023
– Water usage restrictions in Houston may come soon from city, amid drought, Mayor Sylvester Turner said, MSN, August 23, 2023
– Houston’s water crisis: What you need to know, ABC13 Houston, August 24, 2023