Title
Approving an ordinance on second reading with the caption reading: An ordinance of the City of Pflugerville, Texas, amending and updating Chapter 53, Water and Sewers, Drought Contingency Plan and providing that violations of this ordinance are class C misdemeanors subject to fines not to exceed $2,000.00; providing cumulative, repealer and severability clauses; providing for open meeting and establishing an effective date.
Summary
The Drought Contingency Plan must be updated at a minimum of every five years per Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and LCRA requirements and the Texas Administration Code. With the update of the Drought Contingency Plan, City staff recommends modifying the drought stages to be more in-line with LCRA’s Water Management Plan and with the Highland Lakes Firm Water Customer Coalition which the City of Pflugerville is a member of since it’s formation in 2012.
Proposed stages of plan:
Conservation Stage - Year-round:
• Outdoor water allowed twice per week.
Stage 1 - Moderate Water Shortage
• Outdoor watering allowed once per week is triggered by one of the following:
o Must be between the months of March and October.
o Highland Lakes capacity reaches 1,200,000 acre feet of storage.
o Lake Pflugerville water level reaches 633’ pool elevation.
o Water consumption reaches 80% of production capacity for 3 consecutive days.
Stage 2 - Severe Water Shortage
• Outdoor watering still allowed once per week, but other restrictions enacted regarding water usage is triggered by one of the following:
o Highland Lakes capacity reaches 700,000 acre feet of storage.
o Lake Pflugerville water level reaches 630’ pool elevation.
o Water consumption reaches 90% of production capacity for 3 consecutive days.
Stage 3 - Emergency Water Shortage
• No outdoor water is allowed and is triggered by one of the following:
o Highland Lakes capacity reaches 600,000 acre feet of storage.
o Critical system failures cause diminished production capacity.
o Water system demand exceeds production capacity.
The Plan has also been modified to tie the drought stages to the current level in Lake Pflugerville at all stages so as to conserve the lake volume in case of an emergency water rationing situation. The previous Drought Contingency Plan was not tied to the level in Lake Pflugerville until the City was in an emergency water shortage condition.
This updated Drought Contingency Plan has been reviewed by LCRA and their comments on the plan have been addressed and this has been approved by their water conservation team. This Plan has also been approved by the City’s legal team for completeness and to ensure that it meets all requirements as set forth by the Texas Water Code.
Following Council approval, this revised plan will be submitted to the LCRA and TCEQ as required.
Prior City Council Action
City Council approved the last update on April 23, 2019
City Council approved the ordinance on first reading on January 10, 2023
Deadline for City Council Action
Action is requested on first reading on December 13, 2022.
Funding Expected: Revenue __ Expenditure __ N/A _X_
Budgeted Item: Yes __ No __ N/A _X_
Amount: _N/A_______
1295 Form Required? Yes __ No _X_
Legal Review Required: N/A __ Required _X_ Date Completed: _10/10/2022_____
Supporting documents attached:
Drought Contingency Plan Ordinance
Drought Contingency Plan
Recommended Action
Approve the proposed ordinance updating the Drought Contingency Plan per Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)/LCRA requirements.