BY KATY MCAFEE
Georgetown water use
Diving in deeper
Average daily usage
Peak daily usage
day for residents who didn’t abide by the drought restrictions. Beyond the required drought restrictions, Georgetown officials have been encouraging residents to conserve water through rebate programs. Georgetown water customers can shave money off their bill by installing an efficient irrigation system, investing in a rainwater collection barrel or xeriscaping— planting native perennials that require less water to maintain. Regional water solutions To secure future water supplies, Georgetown leaders signed an $11.8 million two-year agreement Aug. 9 to reserve water from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer in Robertson County. The agreement reserves 32 million-55 million gallons of water per day with initial delivery in 2030.
Drought conditions in George- town have been exacerbated by the area’s fast-growing population and heavy demand for water for outdoor irrigation. Water demand exceeded 95% of Georgetown’s water supply multi- ple times in early August, and more than 75% of treated water used each day is going toward lawns and landscaping. Georgetown officials announced at a July news conference that they were issuing about 150 citations a
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Single family
Multifamily
Large commercial
Small commercial
Government
SOURCE: CITY OF GEORGETOWN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Individual solutions Kristen Parkhurst, the marketing director of lawn care services company Emerald Lawns, offered several tips on how residents can preserve their lawns and conserve water.
What’s next?
Central Texas will need to see weeks of heavy rainfall, specifically near Fredericksburg to refill water basins, to end drought conditions, said Aaron Abel, water services manager for the Brazos River Authority. “That’s what we’re hoping for, but in the meantime, we’ve got to do what we can to extend the last of the water supply in these reservoirs, and that’s by enacting our drought contingency plans and trying to reduce water use,” Abel said.
Plant native grasses, such as Bermuda and Zoysia.
Utilize top dressing, which adds nutrients back into soil after it's been depleted by the sun.
"Securing additional, diverse, raw-water supplies is important for Georgetown’s future." DAVID MORGAN, GEORGETOWN CITY MANAGER
Aerate soil to loosen compact soil, which restricts root growth.
Consider xeriscaping, a landscaping process that requires little irrigation by utilizing succulents, mulch and other drought- tolerant plants.
SOURCES: CITY OF GEORGETOWN, EMERALD LAWNS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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GEORGETOWN EDITION
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