Latest news with #DroughtContingencyPlan
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bell County water restrictions could be ending soon
BELL COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44) – The Bell County Water Control & Improvement District #1 (WCID 1) has released an update regarding reduced water supply during completions of critical projects. General Manager Ricky Garrett has reported that the two projects planned and funded to bring about improved reliability and enhanced resiliency are nearing completion, and critical tie-ins have been completed. Disinfection and line filling started taking place at 2 p.m. Friday. The drought restrictions are recommended to remain in place until midnight, with full service resuming after midnight on Saturday. Garrett says the drought restrictions which have allowed the past four days of work to proceed without resulting in any boil advisories should be credited to the residents and businesses that curtailed water usage – in some cases at considerable expense for the greater good of the community. This comes after WCID 1 said earlier this month that it would be requesting a 30 percent reduction in water use beginning at 6 p.m. on May 26th. Two projects planned and funded to bring about improved reliability and enhanced resiliency required a shut down of a 48-inch line to make final connections. This water main delivers approximately two-thirds of the total water supply to the cities of Nolanville, Harker Heights, Killeen, and Copperas Cove – along with the 439 Water Supply Corporation and Fort Cavazos. PREVIOUS STORY: Ongoing Bell County projects to cause reduced water supply A bid was awarded to McLean Construction in Killeen on April 24, 2024, in order to constructapproximately 5,000 feet of 54-inch steel pipeline parallel and adjacent to the problem-riddledsection of 48-inch concrete steel cylinder pipe. Since the 48-inch pipe was originally installed in1975, there have been several main breaks resulting in reduced water supply to the approximate 265,000 population served by this system. WCID 1 said all but one line rupture occurred within a 5,000-foot section of the pipeline near North Nolan Road on the east side of the Fort Cavazos Military Reservation. The new steel pipe section was completed except for the connections to the existing 48 inch on either end. The other project was the construction of a three million-gallon concrete storage tank a few miles west of the parallel line construction. This bid was also awarded to DN Tanks at the April 2024 WCID 1 Board Meeting. This project also required a shutdown of the 48 to make the necessary connections to the transmission main. WCID 1 said it would be initiating Stage 3 of its Drought Contingency Plan toward the end of May, seeking at least a 30 percent reduction in water usage. The district asked all of its customers to implement the stage of their own Drought Contingency Plans resulting in at least a 30 percent reduction in water use. For more information, you can contact Garrett at (254) 501-9243, or send an email to general@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ongoing Bell County projects to cause reduced water supply
BELL COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44) – The Bell County Water Control & Improvement District #1 (WCID 1) is raising awareness of reduced water supply during critical project completions coming next month. WCID 1 says two projects planned and funded to bring about improved reliability and enhanced resiliency are nearing completion. However, they will require a shut down of the 48-inch line to make final connections. This water main delivers approximately 2/3rds of the total water supply to the cities of Nolanville, Harker Heights, Killeen, and Copperas Cove – along with the 439 Water Supply Corporation and Fort Cavazos. A bid was awarded to McLean Construction in Killeen on April 24, 2024, in order to constructapproximately 5,000 feet of 54-inch steel pipeline parallel and adjacent to the problem riddledsection of 48-inch concrete steel cylinder pipe. Since the 48-inch pipe was originally installed in1975, there have been several main breaks resulting in reduced water supply to the approximate 265,000 population served by this system. WCID 1 says all but one line rupture occurred within a 5,000-foot section of the pipeline near North Nolan Road on the east side of the Fort Cavazos Military Reservation. The new steel pipe section is complete except for the connections to the existing 48 inch on either end as shown in the picture below. The other project is the construction of a 3-million-gallon concrete storage tank a few mileswest of the parallel line construction. This bid was also awarded to DN Tanks at the April 2024 WCID 1 Board Meeting. This project also requires a shutdown of the 48 to make the necessary connections to the transmission main as shown in the picture below. WCID 1 says it will be initiating Stage 3 of its Drought Contingency Plan toward the end of May, seeking at least a 30 percent reduction in water usage. The district will be asking all of its customers to implement the stage of their own Drought Contingency Plans resulting in at least a 30 percent reduction in water use. This curtailment could last up to four days while contractors make the critical connections and welds. During the time water is shut down on the 48-inch line, water delivery from the Belton Water Treatment Plant will be from a 24-inch line and a 30-inch line. If water usage from residents and businesses is reduced enough, a boil water advisory may not be necessary. However, if water usage depletes storage levels, then a mandatory boil order will be issued forpublic health and safety. The District will implement Emergency Water Demand Measures forwater delivery as shown in our Drought Contingency Plan. The Pro Rata Allocation from thisportion of the Conservation Plan will be used as a guide for reporting reduced usage during theshutdown period. WCID 1 says several water saving tips are available at For more information, you can contact Bell County WCID #1 General Manager Ricky Garrett at (254) 501-9243 or send an email to general@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Experts sound alarm as unusual conditions could threaten water supply for millions of Americans: 'Abysmal'
Drought has defined water conditions in the western United States in recent years. This year, conditions seem particularly dry in the southwestern U.S., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Integrated Drought Information System. The organizations released a report earlier this month detailing snow-water conditions across the West. The report concluded dry conditions plagued the Southwest and produced "deepening snow deficits." Of the western U.S., 62% experienced below-average snow-water conditions this winter, NOAA and NIDIS reported. The driest areas included northwestern Montana, eastern Wyoming, central and southern Utah, and southwestern Colorado, while Arizona and New Mexico had the least precipitation. Arizona and New Mexico recorded less than 50% of normal snow-water conditions at all but two monitoring stations. Some of these stations –– like Verde Basin and Little Colorado Basin in Arizona –– experienced as little as 8% and 17% of normal conditions, respectively. The report described the Southwest's snowpack as "abysmal," which could be "critical" for the region's water supply. Arizona and New Mexico's dry winters will decrease the Southwest's water supply into the spring and summer. The Bureau of Reclamation forecasts inflow into Lake Powell –– which supplies water to communities in Arizona, Nevada, and California –– at 67% of normal from April to July. This winter does not mark the Southwest's first poor snowpack. Lake Powell has experienced "long-term persistent drought" and below-average water levels since 2002, according to Western Resource Advocates. The organization described the snowpack in Lake Powell's watershed as "rarely" being above average. This decline in snow-water conditions results from changes in climate rather than weather. Rising temperatures are making droughts more common and more severe, reported NOAA. Warmer temperatures, according to NOAA, allow the atmosphere to hold more moisture before falling as rain or snow. Less precipitation can decrease water resources, like Lake Powell, and impact other weather events, like wildfires. Increased risk for wildfires exists in the Southwest through June, predicts the National Interagency Fire Center. Droughts persist due to rising temperatures, but we can mitigate their impact. Education and action regarding climate issues can bring attention to them. Legislation that concerns these issues, like the Drought Contingency Plan that manages and conserves water in Lake Powell, can prevent negative consequences from them. Success stories of once drought-ridden landscapes, like Lake Urmia in Iran, give cause for hope. Other projects, like one to improve drinking water in Florida, help both drought-affected environments and communities. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Axios
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Arizona preparing for possible litigation over Colorado River water negotiations
Arizona is hoping for consensus but preparing for a possible legal battle as it negotiates a new multistate agreement over how Colorado River water is allocated in the event additional cuts are needed. Why it matters: A new agreement could ease the burden on Arizona water users — particularly those in the central part of the state who are dependent on Central Arizona Project (CAP) water — when drought and depleted reservoirs force cuts. The CAP has what's known as junior priority water rights from the Colorado River, meaning it's at the top of the list for cuts amid shortages. Shortages and cuts have become regular occurrences due to a 24-year " megadrought" that ranks as the region's worst in 1,200 years. The latest: In her budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year, Gov. Katie Hobbs proposed giving $3 million to the Arizona Department of Water Resources for future litigation over the agreement. Hobbs prefers a negotiated compromise, but the funds send a message that "we are prepared to fight for Arizona's fair share no matter what happens," the governor's spokesperson, Christian Slater, told reporters during a recent budget presentation. State Sen. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, who will play a leading role in negotiating the Arizona Senate's approval of any Colorado River agreement, told Axios it would be "foolish" to not have a litigation fund in place. Catch up quick: The seven Colorado River basin states agreed to guidelines in 2007 that dictate how cuts are allocated during water shortages. Those directives were amended by a 2019 Drought Contingency Plan. The 2007 guidelines expire at the end of next year. State of play: A 1922 compact dictates how much water each state is entitled to, but levels have consistently fallen short of the amount of water that agreement anticipated. If the basin states can't agree, they could end up with a resolution mandated by the federal government. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released a set of options in November that could impose as much as 4 million acre-feet in cuts on the lower basin states annually. The intrigue: The primary schism in the ongoing negotiations is between the lower basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada and the upper basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University's Morrison Institute for Public Policy, tells Axios. Lower basin states want the upper basin to take a greater share of future cuts, and Arizona wants other states to help ensure that CAP water continues flowing, Porter said. Arizona also needs to ensure that adequate amounts of water remain in Lake Mead, a key reservoir that powers Hoover Dam. Upper basin states that don't use their full allocations want cuts to come from the lower basin. What they're saying: "They're absolutely at an impasse," Porter said of the upper and lower basins. "They seem to be so far apart and there doesn't seem to be any path to coming to agreement at this point." Porter said the likelihood of an agreement seems "extremely low." What we're watching: The negotiations overlap with the change from the Biden to the Trump administration, and it's unclear how that transition may affect a final agreement.
Yahoo
30-12-2024
- Climate
- Yahoo
City of Hutto now in Stage 1 water conservation: What this means for you
HUTTO, Texas - The City of Hutto is easing water restrictions ahead of the new year. Effective now, the city dropped from Stage 2 water conservation efforts to Stage 1, which means watering on certain days is voluntary, but still encouraged. Residents can also refill swimming pools or wash cars, buildings or driveways. Stage 1 water conservation is voluntary but encouraged and focuses on reducing outdoor water use. Here's what Stage 1 entails: Industrial, commercial, and institutional customers are asked to voluntarily water outdoors only on Mondays and Fridays. Even-numbered residential addresses are asked to voluntarily water outdoors only on Sundays and Thursdays. Odd-numbered residential addresses are asked to voluntarily water outdoors only on Saturdays and Tuesdays. Outdoor watering should only occur before 10 am or after 8 pm on designated days. "Outdoor watering" is defined as using automatic irrigation systems and hose-end sprinklers. All water customers are encouraged to practice water conservation and to minimize or discontinue water use for non-essential purposes. With the move to Stage 1, some of the mandatory restrictions from Stage 2 are lifted. During Stage 2, all restrictions were required and enforceable. In Stage 1: While outdoor watering is still restricted to certain days, it is voluntary. Swimming pool filling and vehicle washing are no longer restricted. Restaurants may serve water without a patron request. Fountains and aesthetic pond-water features can be operated. Water may be used to wash down buildings, driveways, sidewalks, and hard-surface areas or to flush gutters. However, customers should be aware that if the City of Hutto needs to move to Stage 2 Water Conservation efforts again, all the above conservation efforts will be required and enforceable. Several water providers serve Hutto. Use this interactive map to find out which is yours. Read the details outlining all water conservation stages and the Drought Contingency Plan.
