Stage 3

A sign of the times: Drought. Our water supplies are very low in the Rio Grande Valley and have been dropping ever since we moved to the Valley in 2017.

September 14, 2023

Customers of Laguna Madre Water District
Carlos J. Galvan, Jr. General Manager, Laguna Madre Water District 

Water Conservation and Emergency Water Demand Management Plan 

Terminate Stage 2 – MODERATE Water Shortage Conditions
Initiate Stage 3 – SEVERE Water Shortage Conditions

On Wednesday, September 6, 2023, the level of the U.S. combined storage in Amistad and Falcon Reservoirs remained below 25% capacity for a period of 30 days. As the reservoir levels remain below 25% full, the Laguna Madre Water District hereby rescinds Stage 2 – MODERATE Water Shortage Conditions and initiates Stage 3 – SEVERE Water Shortage Conditions. District customers are required to follow these Water Use Restrictions for Demand Reduction:

1. a)  Irrigation of landscaped areas shall be limited to designated watering days between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight and between 12:00 midnight and 7:00 a.m. the following day and shall be by means of hand-held hoses, hand-held buckets, drip irrigation, or permanently installed automatic sprinkler system only. The use of hose-end sprinklers is prohibited at all times.

2. b)  Designated watering days shall be limited to Mondays and Thursdays for customers in Laguna Heights and Laguna Vista, Tuesdays and Fridays for customers on South Padre Island, and Wednesdays and Saturdays for customers in Port Isabel and Long Island Village.

3. c)  Use of water to wash any motor vehicle, motorbike, boat, trailer, airplane or other vehicle is prohibited except on designated watering days between 7:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight and between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 7:00 a.m. the following day. 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 rises. 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.

4. d)  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 7:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight and between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 7:00 a.m. the following day.

5. e)  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.

6. f)  Use of water from hydrants shall be limited to fire-fighting, related activities, or other activities necessary to maintain public health, safety, and welfare, except that use of water from designated fire hydrants for construction purposes may be allowed under special permit from the Laguna Madre Water District.

7. g)  All restaurants are prohibited from serving water to patrons except upon request of the patron.

8. h)  The following uses of water are defined as non-essential and are prohibited:
   1. wash down of any sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts, or other hard-surfaced areas;
   2. use of water to wash down buildings or structures for purposes other than immediate fire protection;
   3. use of water for dust control;
   4. flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street; and
   5. failure to repair a controllable leak(s) within a reasonable period after having been given notice directing the repair of such leak(s)

If you have any questions, please contact Customer Service at 956-943-2626.