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After reviewing water levels in District Monitor Well, Ron Fieseler, General Manager of the Blanco-Pedernales Groundwater Conservation District, has raised drought conditions in southern Blanco County from Stage One (Mild Drought) to Stage Two (Moderate Drought) for groundwater users in Precincts 1 and 4. This declaration goes into effect on July 9, 2006 and will continue until further notice.

District-declared Stage Two Drought conditions affect only well owners and those whose water supply is provided by water wells located in Precincts 1 and 4.

The City of Blanco is on surface water and anyone who is served by that water system is not required to comply with drought reductions required by the District. However, Fieseler notes that flow from seeps, springs, creeks and rivers is often derived from groundwater sources and when this flow is reduced during times of drought, it can result in less surface water being available. Therefore, City of Blanco customers may find it prudent to voluntarily incorporate conservation measures in order to help reduce demand on their surface water supplies.

Precincts 2 and 3 in the northern part of Blanco County will remain in Stage One, since water levels in monitor wells in those areas indicate a somewhat more stable water table.

Under Stage Two, the District’s Drought Rule increases the conservation goal from the 5-10% reduction previously required under Stage One, to a 20% reduction in groundwater use. The 20% reduction can be achieved by following one or more of the water conservation methods listed below.

Stage Two Moderate Drought

Conservation Goal: 20% reduction in groundwater use

Usage Reduction Measures:

• Continue, or increase, voluntary reduction in various uses

• Check for and correct all plumbing leaks

• Water outside lawns, trees, shrubs once every 5 to 7 days

• Water at night between hours of 8pm and 8am

• Keep swimming pools, landscape or decorative ponds, and fountains covered, use water recirculation, and refill only once every 5 to 7 days

• Wash vehicles at car wash only as needed

• No washing of buildings, driveways, streets, patios, or other outdoor surfaces except as required for human or animal health and safety needs, or for fire prevention

• Water livestock in leak-proof troughs as much as practical

• Providing groundwater to ponds, lakes, tanks, reservoirs, swimming pools, or other surface impoundments for holding water that have a total capacity of more than 50,000 gallons is prohibited except for those wells permitted for non-domestic irrigation.

The District is grateful for the water conservation efforts of well owners during the last month.

The voluntary reductions in use, in conjunction with a few scattered rain showers, have helped to slow the steady decline in water levels measured in District Monitor Wells over the past few months.

This week, a couple of wells even showed a slight increase in water level from the previous readings. However, Fieseler noted that with three more months of hot summer weather ahead of us, such increases are usually short-lived and it is still prudent for the District to declare Stage Two at this time for Precincts 1 and 4.

Fieseler said that during the past month, two new wells have been drilled to replace older, shallow wells. Other wells have had to have their pumps lowered. Such actions are to be expected during times of drought. However, if groundwater users make sincere and ongoing efforts to conserve groundwater, the District hopes to keep the number of well problems at a minimum.

If reduction goals during Stage Two are met, the District may be able to avoid declaring a more serious drought condition.

It has come to the attention of the District that many Blanco County well owners may not know who to contact with aquifer questions or reports of problems associated with lower water levels and changes in water quality.

If you have any questions or concerns about water wells, Drought Conditions, water conservation practices, or Blanco County groundwater resources, you should contact the District directly.

The District is the primary source in Blanco County for aquifer questions, water level records, water quality data and testing, individual well records, and overall geology and hydrology information.

The District Office is located at 601 West Main in Johnson City and the office phone number is (830) 868-9196. You can also email the General Manager, Ron Fieseler, at: manager@blancocountygroundwater.org.