SUBJECT
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An Introductory Ordinance amending Chapter 31 (Utilities), Article V (Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan) sections 31-195 through 31-242. Amending sections 31-195, 31-196, 31-197, 31-199, 31-203, 31-204,31-207, 31-208, 31-211, 31-212, 31-215, 31-217, 31-218, 31-220, 31-222, 31-237, 31-238, 31-240 and deleting sections 31-209, 31-223, 31-224. Providing for severability and publication date. This amendment incorporates changes such as a new irrigation schedule, enhancing outdoor water management, imposing restrictions on non-essential water usage, establishing triggers for drought responses, and introducing automatic citation protocols.
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PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION
On August 05, 2019, the City Council Introduced the Ordinance to amend the Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plans. On August 19, 2019, the final reading of the Ordinance 2019-O-139 was approved by the City Council.
BACKGROUND
The Texas Water Development Board requires a copy of all municipal water conservation and drought contingency plans in order to qualify for funding. A comparative analysis was conducted to assess Laredo's water conservation ordinance with other ordinances around the state. Findings indicated that our ordinance was significantly more lax than other cities around Texas that have similar population, poverty rate and water scarcity issues. As a result, the City of Laredo Utilities Department developed a water conservation plan and drought contingency plan to be adopted as a combined ordinance officially named the Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Ordinance. Implementation of this ordinance will help reduce the consumption of water, reduce the loss or waste of water, improve the efficiency in the use of water, and increase the recycling and reuse of water for the ultimate purpose of making a water supply available for future or alternative uses. In addition, implementation of this ordinance will help establish procedures for identifying ...
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