Sunday, May 28, 2023

Register for the DIY Rainwater Harvesting Workshop & Rain Barrel Sale

With the hottest months of summer coming up, why not learn how to sustainably help your landscape beat the heat? In conjunction with the Tarrant Regional Water District and Tarrant County Master Gardeners, the City of Southlake Public Works Department will host a virtual DIY Rainwater Harvesting Workshop. Rainwater harvesting is not only a great way to save money on your water bill, but it also helps conserve water. This is especially important in the summer when demand for water reaches its peak.

Open exclusively to Southlake residents, this 45-minute workshop will teach you the best tips and tricks on how to easily collect and utilize rainwater for your home. Registrants will be able to access the virtual presentation at their convenience from July 23rd to July 30th.

In addition to the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to purchase their own rain barrel at a discounted rate of only $25. There are a limited number of barrels, so be sure to register today and secure yours! Only one rain barrel per household. More details about when and where to pick up the barrels will be provided through email after registering.

For more information and to register for the event, visit https://southlakerwh.eventbrite.com.

To learn more about Tarrant Regional Water District and water conservation efforts in our region, visit https://savetarrantwater.com/.

Residents to See Increase in Water Rates in 2015

For the second year in a row the City of Fort Worth has increased wholesale water charges.  Representatives of the Tarrant Regional Water District and the City of Fort Worth Water Department have indicated that a continuation of this trend should be expected.

An article posted on August 6, 2014 in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram referenced the increase and quoted officials from the City of Fort Worth and Tarrant Regional Water District, stating that the drought might intensify. Due to the cost of raw water being the major driver for water rates, they are expected to continue to increase—and double in the next 10 years.  The rate increase is also directly related to the increased demand and use of water resources by all cities served by the Tarrant Regional Water District. Permanent, mandatory Stage 1 water restrictions are in effect to encourage consumers to conserve this natural resource.

The impact on Southlake customers will be 7.825% pass through increase to their water rates.  This means an average residential consumer with a 1” water meter will experience approximately a $9.71 monthly increase.  The same size meter for an average commercial consumer will reflect about $13.16 added to the monthly bill.  Of course, exact consumption will determine the dollar amount of the increase.  The charts below provide a more detailed look at the averages.

Residential Water Rates

1″ Meter

Gallons

Current Rate

7.825%
Increase

Net Increase

0 – 2000

$31.75

$34.05

$2.30

2,001 – 10,000

$3.73

$4.00

$0.27

10,001 – 25,000

$4.32

$4.63

$0.31

25,001 – 40,000

$4.61

$4.94

$0.33

40,001 +

$5.38

$5.77

$0.39

Residential Avg

26,640

$133.87

$9.71

Commercial Water Rates

1″ Meters

Gallons

Current Rate

7.825% Increase

Net Increase

0 – 3,000

$49.93

$53.55

$3.62

3,001 – 10,000

$3.73

$4.00

$0.27

10,001 – 25,000

$4.32

$4.63

$0.31

25,001 – 40,000

$4.61

$4.94

$0.33

40,001 +

$5.38

$5.77

$0.39

Commercial Avg

33,840

$181.52

$13.16

This information is also posted on our City website and the City will engage a number of communication mediums to inform our residents and customers of the impact to their bills.

For more information about the methodology Fort Worth used to calculate the increase, please visit their website by clicking on this link to the Fort Worth Water Department.

Stage 1 Water Restrictions Implemented June 3rd

The City of Southlake is implementing Stage 1 water restrictions effective Monday, June 3 at the direction of the Fort Worth Water Department and the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD).  The water restrictions are necessary because of low water supply levels. Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD), who supplies  raw water to Fort Worth for purification and sale to water customers expects the area lakes to reach the trigger – 75 percent level of available water supply – by then. The current level is 76 percent.

Unfortunately, we have not seen the normal spring and fall rainfall in our watersheds. This is the 4th driest spring on record, and we need 6-9” to get back to normal going into summer. TRWD anticipates we will remain in Stage 1 through at least this fall.

The primary focus of Stage 1 actions is to significantly reduce outdoor watering, which can account for as much as 50 percent of the daily residential water used during the summer.

Stage 1 limits outdoor watering with an irrigation system or hose-end sprinkler to a maximum of two assigned days per week for all customers. Residential customers whose addresses end in odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9) are permitted to water lawn and landscapes only on Sundays and Thursdays. Addresses ending in even numbers (2, 4, 6, 8 or 0) may water on Saturdays and Wednesdays only.  Non-residential addresses including businesses, HOAs, parks, and medians can water only on Tuesday and Fridays. No watering is allowed on Mondays.

The time of day restriction, which prohibits outdoor watering with sprinklers between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., continues to be in effect.

Watering by hand-held hose, drip irrigation or soaker hose is allowed at any time. Residents are encouraged to limit such watering to a maximum of two hours per day.

Other Stage 1 measures include the following.

  • Vehicle washing is limited to the use of hand-held buckets and a hose with a positive shutoff valve. Vehicles may be washed at any time at a carwash.
  • No hosing of buildings or other structures for purposes other than fire protection.
  • Encouraging no hosing of paved areas, such as sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, etc.
  • Encouraging hotels, restaurants and bars to serve water only upon request.
  • Establishing new turf is discouraged, and a variance is required to do so.

Water conservation is necessary to provide a continued water supply over the coming years. Join us in protecting our water resources.

For more information, visit CityofSouthlake.com/WaterConservation.

Stage 1 Water Restrictions Likely in Near Future

The Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) has informed the City of Southlake that due to the dry weather conditions in the North Texas Region, residents in the area may again face Stage 1 water restrictions in early 2013. “Water conservation efforts in North Texas are very important as we deal with two important issues, drought and increased use of our water resources in this area,” says City of Southlake’s Public Works Director, Bob Price. Southlake purchases its water supply from the City of Fort Worth who in turn purchases its water from TRWD.

The current water reservoirs are at 77% capacity and are declining about 1% every two weeks. Stage 1 drought measures are triggered when the reservoir reaches 75% which is expected to happen around mid-January without any measurable rainfall.  Currently, more than 87% of Texas is experiencing moderate to extreme drought conditions, and 2012 is shaping up to be the warmest year on record in Texas. October-November ranks as the second driest on record in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. According to TRWD, The lack of rain and higher temperatures once again are taking their toll on the reservoirs.

The goal of Stage 1 restrictions is to reduce water by at least 5% over what is normally used.  Earlier this year, the City of Southlake entered Stage 1 water restrictions at the end of July as a result of high temperatures and heavy water consumption.  The restrictions ended at the end of September.

If current weather patterns continue, and the lake levels falls below 75%, TRWD could implement restrictions in early 2013. The Stage 1 measures consist of:

  • Limiting outdoor watering with hose-end sprinklers and automatic irrigation systems to no more than twice per week at each service address.
  • No outdoor watering with hose-end sprinklers and outdoor irrigation systems between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. (Please note that irrigating between these hours is not allowed at any time)
  • Prohibiting non-essential water use, such as hosing of paved areas, hosing of buildings except for fire protection and surface preparation, and using water in a manner that allows runoff.
  • Watering by hand or using soaker hoses or drip irrigation is allowed any time, and day of the week.

For more information about the Tarrant Regional Water District, please visit www.trwd.com