Stage 2 Triggered in League City when: The total daily water demand equals or exceeds 85% of the available capacity for three consecutive days or 95% on a single day, or the city of Houston has initiated Stage 2. Triggered in Clear Lake when: The average ve-day water demand reaches 85% of the available capacity, or the city of Houston has initiated Stage 2. What it means: Water restrictions
Stage 1 Triggered in League City when: The total daily water demand equals or exceeds 75% of the available capacity for three consecutive days or 85% on a single day, or the city of Houston has initiated Stage 1. Triggered in Clear Lake when: The average ve-day water demand reaches 80% of the available capacity, or the city of Houston has initiated Stage 1.
drought conditions could worsen a bit, Fowler said. Future concerns From a temperature standpoint, meteorologists have seen an increase over the past few decades, particularly in overnight temperatures. It no longer gets nearly as cool overnight, which a ects droughts, Fowler said. Due to regional population growth, climate predictions and rain variabil- ity, the future drought in Texas may actually be a megadrought, which lasts decades, Nielsen-Gammon said. A megadrought is caused by cli- mate cycles and change, which Niel- sen-Gammon said will cause higher temperatures that diminish rainfall. Texas has historically had unpre- dictable rainfall patterns, making it di cult to predict droughts, Niel- sen-Gammon said. “Texas is quite variable from ... year to year,” he said. “We’ve had some decades with 50% more rainfall than other decades, for example.” Shawn Arrajj and Grace Dickens con- tributed to this report.
Stage 3 Triggered in League City when: The total daily water demand equals or exceeds 90% of the available capacity for three consecutive days or 98% on a single day, or the city of Houston has initiated Stage 3. Triggered in Clear Lake when: The average ve-day water demand reaches 80% of the available capacity, or the city of Houston has initiated Stage 3. What it means: League City ceases permitting private pools and limits vehicle washing. The CLCWA initiates surcharges for excessive water use. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY League City and the Clear Lake City Water Authority have several stages of increasing intensity to reduce water use in the event of a drought or emergency. Neither entity had to enact their drought contingency plans during the drought over the summer.
are mandatory. Water runo and waste should be reduced in League City, and the Clear Lake City Water Authority limits vehicle washing. Stage 5
What it means: Water restrictions are voluntary. Outdoor watering should be limited to certain windows of time.
Stage 4
Triggered in League City when: The city experiences a major water line break or the total daily water demand equals or exceeds 95% of the available capacity for three consecutive days, or the city of Houston has initiated an emergency water shortage. Triggered in Clear Lake when: A major water line failure or contamination occurs, or the city of Houston has initiated Stage 4.
Triggered in Clear Lake when: A Stage 4 emergency lasts for three consecutive days.
What it means: The Clear Lake City Water Authority is authorized to allocate water according to a speci c emergency plan. This stage does not exist in League City.
What it means: All nonessential water use is prohibited in League City. The CLCWA seeks assistance from city, county or state o cials.
SOURCES: CITY OF LEAGUE CITY, CLEAR LAKE CITY WATER AUTHORITY COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
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BAY AREA EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
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