Residents and businesses could be cut off from their water supply for lawn watering if they continue to violate Fort Worth’s irrigation ordinance, city officials warn.
Commercial properties are the biggest culprits.
Fort Worth’s highest demands for water comes from irrigation and lawn care, water utility director Chris Harder told City Council members Nov. 4.
A new penalty for those who overwater did not deter violators, he said. So the utility department is bringing an updated ordinance to the council on Nov. 11. If approved, the city would shut off water for irrigation for those who repeatedly exceed the limits.
The city’s ordinance limits lawn watering to twice per week and prohibits irrigation between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
On the first violation, the water utility issues a warning. For the second violation, property owners are fined $25. The fee doubles and then triples by the third and fourth violations, respectively.
The violation system for exceeding irrigation limits took effect in March to help conserve the city’s water supply.
While somewhat successful, those measures have not resulted in enough compliance needed to meet Fort Worth’s conservation goals or in reduced daily consumption, according to city documents.
From the start of March to Oct. 20, the utility department issued:
- 49,860 first notices of violation
- 4,233 irrigation fees of $25
- 3,055 irrigation fees of $50
- 1,757 irrigation fees of $75
Residential homes made up 87.6% of the first notices. However, such properties made up fewer than 1% of fourth notices.
In that same time frame, more than 500 commercial property owners violated the ordinance to exceed the final warning.
This prompted city staff to hold 157 meetings with businesses to limit watering and irrigation use, Harder said.
The proposed update would target property owners who continue racking up violations beyond a fourth notice.
Water supply would be turned back on for those owners once irrigation meters show the property owners are in compliance with the ordinance, if adopted.
Council member Elizabeth Beck questioned if the fines are too low to prompt corrective action from property owners.
“If I want nice, lush, green grass in the middle of August, I’ll pay $75 a month for it,” Beck said.
City staff found businesses in violation were paying the fees without corrective action. However, the risk of losing water for lawns should offset the need for increased fees, Harder explained.
“This time next year, I should have no commercial customers in violation of the ordinance,” Harder said. “Either they’re going to be in compliance this time next year or they’re going to have their water shut off.”
Nicole Lopez is the environment reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at nicole.lopez@fortworthreport.org.
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Great Job Nicole Lopez & the Team @ Fort Worth Report for sharing this story.
