SB
enthusiast
Posts: 1551
Reg: 09-07-03
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05-04-14 08:02 PM - Post#168310
In response to StacyLynn624
The pipeline from Texoma will help tremendously. I'm hoping to be able to plant grass once that's online, but I'm sure the NTMWD and the City will treat it like a drop in the bucket and not change anything.
There are projections being made which do include Texoma water coming online in June. The past few years have seen a drop in Lavon water level of 5 to 10 feet during summer months. This year that would put us in Stage 4 - except that Texoma water may be enough to avoid that. Rainfall is unpredictable and we're in an extreme drought situation now so rain has been very scarce. You are right, some cities are not doing their part by enforcing conservation. Plans for new resevoirs have been in the works for decades. Plans have been made but progress is delayed by legal challenges. One challenge is that east a Texans feel their land is being taken for water resevoirs while our water district continues to have high use and weak conservation.
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StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 1091
Loc: West Side
Reg: 09-24-04
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05-05-14 08:15 PM - Post#168358
In response to SB
^ I've read that stuff too. I think its propaganda. Basically, as far as the NTMWD is concerned, they are never going to take us out of Stage 3. We could get an epic, Noah Style Flood, and we'd still have low lake levels as far as they are concerned. There is absolutely nothing that will get them to take us out of Stage 3. Nothing. They are dangling a rain carrot that you will never catch.
They're just trying to condition you into thinking that when Texoma comes online, that its not going make a difference, because they aren't going to let you know that it will make a difference. They want you to keep conserving even if the lake is full "because what if this happens again!!!"
What will really happen, there's enough water for everyone to live free on their private property and do as they please, but they'll send it down the dam and sell it to Dallas to keep Lavon Low.
We'll never be able to resod our yards, we'll never be able to let our kids run in the sprinklers like we did as kids. The City of Allen does not need to make up the difference for cities that aren't as strict. Why do they get to have less restrictions, but we have to sacrifice?
This whole thing boils down to poor planning by the NTMWD. Period.
Don't believe everything that you read from a governmental, or quasi-governmental agency. Enjoy your dirt.
Edited by StacyLynn624 on 05-05-14 08:18 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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catlady
enthusiast
Posts: 688
Loc: allen tx
Reg: 03-22-02
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05-06-14 08:42 AM - Post#168364
In response to StacyLynn624
the thing that gets me is the differences. Frisco can water once a week. My mom lives in Farmers Branch and has no water restrictions.
A dog looks at you and says "You take care of me. You must be a god".
A cat looks at you and says "You give me food and shelter. I must be a god". |
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SB
enthusiast
Posts: 1551
Reg: 09-07-03
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05-06-14 05:25 PM - Post#168383
In response to catlady
Continuing conservation, even after we leave Stage 3, is a good thing. "Propaganda"? Where does your distrust of everything government come from? Government workers are not the enemy. They are neighbors, friends, and fellow citizens who are affected just like everyone else by these regulations. Those cities who are not maintaining conservation efforts might discover payback if the water shortage gets worse and conservation dictates become more extreme. Frisco is one but that shouldn't be surprising. Farmers Branch does not get their water from NTMWD. Have never heard of plans to sell water to Dallas. I know some cities have made arrangements to BUY water from Dallas should we go to stage 4.
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Cheatham Parent
enthusiast
Posts: 225
Reg: 01-23-11
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05-06-14 10:16 PM - Post#168388
In response to SB
From I can tell, Allen isn't doing a very strong enforcement of the updated restrictions. Tons of homes are watering on the wrong days in my neighborhood.
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Mrs. Tex
enthusiast
Posts: 351
Loc: Allen
Reg: 11-01-07
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05-07-14 11:14 AM - Post#168392
In response to Cheatham Parent
Reid Farm getting TICKETS, not just warnings!!
Edited by Mrs. Tex on 05-07-14 11:14 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 1091
Loc: West Side
Reg: 09-24-04
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05-07-14 03:29 PM - Post#168400
In response to SB
Where does your trust of everything Government come from? Why do you think the Government has your best interests at heart? I sure don't.
If you don't know that once the water leaves the dam at Lavon, it goes to Ray Hubbard and becomes City of Dallas Drinking Water, then you don't know much. The reason we have this situation is because the NTMWD is required to open the dam and give water to Dallas when we get big rains, even when Lavon is extremely low.
Do you think I'm a water waster? I'm not. We conserve a ton. In our old house, we never drained our pool (even though you are supposed to every 5 years or so), and we probably hadn't run our sprinklers in 5 years.
I just want to be able to resod my yard and do some pool maintenance. So now, we're in a new to us house that desperately needs this maintenance. I just want a yard! We have NO yard. Zero. Not even a speck of random crabgrass. Just a bunch of dirt and poison ivy. I want a yard. I want to be able to adequately water the yard to get it established, and taper off gradually to watering once a week or once every other week.
I don't think that's too much to ask.
And you are exactly what I'm talking about when we finally get out of the drought. That they'll never take us out of Stage 3 because "what if it happens again!!!!" Scare tactics.
Again, I don't want to waste water, or use a ton of water every day. I just want to be able to use the required amount of water, that I pay for, on my private property, to grow grass, have adequate landscaping, feed my trees, and do required pool maintenance. Plus bathe and drink. That's it.
I don't even wash my car.
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SB
enthusiast
Posts: 1551
Reg: 09-07-03
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05-07-14 11:17 PM - Post#168409
In response to StacyLynn624
MY, MY, MY
We are in a severe drought and so everyone has to learn conservation. Those big green lawns of the past may not be sustainable any more. A good landscape designer should be able to show you ideas of beautiful yard designs that don't have the water needs of a lawn. It is likely that water restrictions will be eased in June or July to allow once per week watering - frequent enough to sustain an existing lawn but unfortunately not really often enough to start a new lawn.
"I just want to be able to resod my yard and do some pool maintenance. So now, we're in a new to us house that desperately needs this maintenance. I just want a yard! We have NO yard. Zero. Not even a speck of random crabgrass. Just a bunch of dirt and poison ivy. I want a yard. I want to be able to adequately water the yard to get it established, and taper off gradually to watering once a week or once every other week."
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SB
enthusiast
Posts: 1551
Reg: 09-07-03
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05-08-14 05:52 PM - Post#168427
In response to SB
RAIN!
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lostyankee
enthusiast
Posts: 1336
Reg: 10-27-05
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05-09-14 09:55 AM - Post#168442
In response to SB
The politics of water in Texas is amazing. There's no consistency from community to community, it makes no sense.
I'm all for liberty and personal freedom, but if we don't start being smart with water, we're in trouble, not now but 20 years from now. We need to build more reservoirs now, not later. It's not liberal or conservative, it's just common sense. The math doesn't work under our current regulations.
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ELECTRA66
newbie
Posts: 14
Loc: Allen
Reg: 01-29-14
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05-10-14 11:01 AM - Post#168452
In response to lostyankee
I drive a route on Tuesday and Friday through Plano, including Willow Bend and it's amazing to me that they water their yards both days that I drive in the area and it seems to me they don't realize we're in a water emergency status!
Water just runs down the street from their sprinkler systems.
Maybe they think the water shortage doesn't apply to them..
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mspam3
enthusiast
Posts: 2379
Loc: Allen TX
Reg: 03-10-07
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05-10-14 11:54 AM - Post#168453
In response to ELECTRA66
And just think what's going to happen when 14,000 people arrive here to work at Toyota. We don't even have enough water for those of us living here now. If it's 14,000 employees then alot have families so that's even more people.
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StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 1091
Loc: West Side
Reg: 09-24-04
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05-10-14 10:31 PM - Post#168466
In response to SB
Seriously, when someone goes against what you think, or what anybody thinks on this board, you assume that they want to go to extremes. Do you think I want to turn every faucet on 24/7? Seriously?
No. I just want to do responsible watering to sustain the life of my family and my yard, as a proper homeowner should.
I know, like many others, that this is a phase that will soon pass. The drought won't last forever.
But, we've been under these restrictions for at least 6 years, and those people who have put off maintenance that requires a bit more water for a short period of time, need to do that maintenance. We haven't been in the drought the whole time. Most of the shortage is because of poor planning. It's not like the Water District couldn't figure out how many building and pool permits were being pulled in each City.
My solution? Let those homeowners who need a variance for replacement sod and pool maintenance have the month of April or 30 days from April 15 - May 15 to do that maintenance. Maybe, if there was some rain in the summer, they could have the month of September (since we're past April this year - maybe we'll get a tropical system). They won't need to use the water every day for 30 days because it's more likely that it will rain in that period of time. Then, no more variances if we're still in a drought.
Fair enough?
Thanks for the respect of NOT resodding my lawn and complaining about not being able to do it the right way. I could be like some of my neighbors and just do it anyway.
BTW, when you get new sod, you have to water each stations for a few minutes every day for 2 weeks, then every other day for a week, then every 2 days for a week, and keep progressing down until you get to once a week or once every other week, if there is no rain. That's responsible watering for a new lawn. It would be like a $100 water bill. That's all I want to do, and it's not an extraordinary amount of water Its less than my bathtub is full. I'll volunteer to skip a bubble bath once a week. Sound ok now?
For all you know, I could be the world's biggest water conserver, I just want to water my lawn now. You don't know me. I probably save more water than you do in my everyday life. We saved a ton of water in our old house because we never watered our lawn. So all of that conservation that we built up, we just want to use a bit for 30 freaking days if it doesn't rain.
Can I cut back elsewhere to make up for wanting to water some replacement St Augustine? I have really long hair, I only wash it twice a week, because its better for your hair anyway. How many times a week do you wash your hair?
Edited by StacyLynn624 on 05-10-14 10:41 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 1091
Loc: West Side
Reg: 09-24-04
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05-10-14 10:46 PM - Post#168468
In response to StacyLynn624
I forgot to add, I only drink one, medium sized glass of water a day. At bedtime. And if I have any left over in the morning, I use it to water indoor plants or my hanging baskets outside.
How many glasses of our precious water do you consume in a day?
Edited by StacyLynn624 on 05-10-14 10:47 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 1091
Loc: West Side
Reg: 09-24-04
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05-10-14 10:48 PM - Post#168470
In response to StacyLynn624
If I get a rain barrel, can I have your personal permission to get a new lawn? For my kids' sake, of course. Its for the children. Aren't we all about the children here? Its my own personal rain water.
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Cheatham Parent
enthusiast
Posts: 225
Reg: 01-23-11
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05-10-14 11:06 PM - Post#168471
In response to StacyLynn624
I haven't contacted these guys yet but their website said they have expanded to Dallas. Could be a good alternative to draining. I have no idea what the cost might be and I would probably want some references to be sure they aren't selling snake oil.
http://poolservicestech.com/tag/reverse-osmosis/
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DrivinTooFast
enthusiast
Posts: 1874
Reg: 02-20-08
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05-12-14 09:04 PM - Post#168514
In response to Cheatham Parent
A six pack of beer per day and my landscaping is LUSH!!!!
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denisew
Community Expert
Posts: 9241
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 02-18-02
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05-13-14 09:58 AM - Post#168530
In response to StacyLynn624
If you get a rain barrel, be sure to use the mosquito dunks in them to keep the mosquitoes under control.
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ConserveNature
enthusiast
Posts: 174
Reg: 10-15-05
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05-16-14 08:56 AM - Post#168591
In response to denisew
Some rain barrels do not require mosquito dunks since they are totally enclosed except for the screen mesh on the top. We received 1-2, actually paid for it, from the city for the Sustainable Landscape classes (How to Make a Rain Barrel). I liked the course and the barrel were only $50 minus the $25 that the city takes off on your water bill. Also have to check if state gives anything back. They are cheaper than the $100 I have found at a few places.
Edited by ConserveNature on 05-16-14 09:01 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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denisew
Community Expert
Posts: 9241
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 02-18-02
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05-16-14 09:17 PM - Post#168609
In response to ConserveNature
I have a couple rain barrels, but we had to cut a larger hole on top of one to make some repairs inside at one point (long story), so need to toss in mosquito dunks occasionally. We just have to replace a proper mesh top.
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