BLANCO, Texas — As drought conditions continue across Central Texas, the city of Blanco has moved into Stage 4 water restrictions.
According to the city, during Stage 4, all requirements of Stages 2 and 3 remain in effect except:
- Lawn watering is limited to designated watering days between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and between 8 p.m. and midnight. Watering can only be done via handheld hoses, handheld buckets or drip irrigation. Residents may not use hose-end sprinklers and permanently installed automatic sprinkler systems
- Residents can't wash any vehicles at their homes and any washing at commercial car washes or service stations must occur only between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.
- Residents may not fill, refill or add water to swimming pools, wading pools or hot tubs
- Operation of any fountain or pond for aesthetic reasons is prohibited except where it's necessary to support aquatic life or where fountains or ponds are equipped with a recirculation system
- No applications will be approved for any "new, additional, expanded, or increased-in-size water service connections, meters, service lines, pipeline extensions, mains, or water service facilities of any kind." Time limits for approvals of this type of application are also suspended for as long as Stage 4 or a higher stage is in effect
The city of Blanco said the goal of Stage 4 restrictions is to achieve a 40% reduction in total water use or daily water demand.