AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — The City of Amarillo said it has never had to go into Stage 2 drought restrictions and its hoping to avoid that now.
“We don’t want to get to the point where we have start having to tell people ‘this is what you have to do?” said Assistant City Manager Donny Hooper.
Hooper held a news conference Monday morning to provide an update Monday on Stage 1 of its drought contingency plan and its ongoing water-conservation efforts.
Hooper said the combination of 34-days of triple digit hear this summer (29 above normal) and lack of rainfalls (9.37-inches below the normal rainfall) is putting a strain on the system
The city’s 5 million gallon reservoir dropped to 52% on Friday. It was up slightly to 54% as of Monday.
Last week, Amarillo activated Stage 1 last week after its reservoir fell to 60% of capacity. The voluntary plan asks residents and businesses to follow an odd-even outdoor watering schedule, avoid watering Saturdays and limit irrigation to between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Hooper is asking for more residents and business to cooperate.
“Every reduction in outdoor water use will help us to protect the reservoir and help us avoid mandatory Stage 2 restrictions that could come next,” said Hooper.
On Friday, the city suspended irrigation at city parks and facilities, and closed park splash pads.