Drought Contingency Plan: What Triggers It and What It Means for You

HCMUD 0712026-07-22T11:36:49-05:00July 22, 2026|

Drought conditions in Southeast Texas can escalate quickly, especially during the hot summer months. While HCMUD 71 operates its own groundwater wells and monitors water supply conditions daily, residents should be aware of the District’s Drought Contingency Plan, which is available on the District’s website, at https://hcmud71.com/documents/#districtdocs.

What is a Drought Contingency Plan?

HCMUD 71 is required to create and maintain a current Drought Contingency Plan. Our Drought Contingency Plan covers the rules that the District and its customers follow during drought conditions to ensure water availability in times of high demand or reduced system capacity.

The Drought Contingency Plan outlines a series of “trigger conditions” and response stages that determine when and how water use should be limited across the District.

Triggers aren’t based on public drought declarations or rainfall levels alone. Instead they are activated when water production facilities experience high runtimes or strain that could impact reliability for residents, or when mechanical failures or other equipment issues limit the District’s water supply.

What Triggers the Plan?

The Drought Contingency Plan may be activated in three stages based on how long and how hard the District’s water system is running to meet demand:

• Stage I – Mild Drought: Triggered when the water production facilities run more than 16.8 hours per day for 5 consecutive days.
• Stage II – Moderate Drought: Triggered when runtimes exceed 21.6 hours per day for 3 consecutive days.
• Stage III – Severe Drought: Triggered when runtimes are at or near 24 hours per day, indicating critical strain on the water production facilities.

While the plan is primarily designed to respond to drought conditions and extended periods of high water demand, it may also be triggered by equipment failures, source contamination, or other emergencies that limit water availability.

What Happens When a Stage is Triggered?

When a drought stage is activated, the District will notify residents and implement targeted water reduction measures. Here's what each stage includes:

Stage I: Mild Drought (Voluntary Restrictions)

• Target: 10% water use reduction
• Residents with even-numbered addresses are asked to water outdoors only on even-numbered calendar days, and those with odd-numbered addresses are asked to water only on odd-numbered calendar days.
• Residents are requested to avoid outdoor watering between 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. – midnight, as these typically are the times of highest use when water supplies are under the most strain.

Stage II: Moderate Drought (Mandatory Restrictions)

• Target: 15% water use reduction
• Stage I rules remain in effect.
• Outdoor water use is limited to hand-held hoses with manual nozzles. No irrigation or sprinkler systems may be used.
• High-volume activities like hydrant flushing, street washing, and pool filling are discouraged.

Stage III: Severe Drought (Mandatory Restrictions)

• Target: 20%+ water use reduction
• All outdoor water use is prohibited.
• A surcharge may be applied for water usage over 10,000 gallons per month.
• The District may restrict water use for non-essential commercial activities and seek alternate sources if needed.

How Will I Be Notified?

HCMUD 71 notifies residents through various methods, such as:

• Email and text alerts (sign up at hcmud71.com/sign-up-email-text-alerts)
• Signage at neighborhood entrances
• Public notice postings or local news alerts

Each notice will include the start date, details of the restrictions, and any penalties fornoncompliance for Stage II or Stage III drought conditions. Repeat violations in Stage II or Stage III drought conditions may result in fines and/or water service disconnection.

Why This Matters

Even though HCMUD 71 operates its own wells and infrastructure, conserving water during high-demand periods is critical to:

• Avoid system strain or outages,
• Maintain safe pressure and supply for all users, and
• Ensure availability during emergency response needs.

By understanding and following the Drought Contingency Plan, residents play a key role in keeping the District’s water system operating smoothly and sustainably.

Practical Ways to Improve Water Efficiency at Home

HCMUD 0712026-07-15T15:44:23-05:00July 15, 2026|

Many homeowners are interested in reducing water usage, which helps to lead lower utility bills, conserve resources, and improve home efficiency. While there are countless products marketed as water-saving solutions, not all upgrades deliver meaningful results. Focusing on proven improvements can provide long-term benefits while maintaining comfort and convenience.

Quickly detecting and eliminating leaks is the single most effective way to reduce water usage. A dripping faucet or running toilet may seem minor, but even small leaks can waste hundreds or thousands of gallons of water over a very short period of time, leaving you with an unexpected higher than usual water bill.

HCMUD 71 has installed smart meters at each of the homes and businesses in the District, which allow you to check near real-time usage and sign up for automated leak detection alerts. All residents are strongly encouraged to sign up for smart meter tools through EyeOnWater by visiting www.eyeonwater.com/signup.

With EyeOnWater, residents can:

• Identify unusual water usage patterns
• Monitor daily consumption
• Receive automated leak alters, which can help identify leaks or continuously running fixtures before you are stuck with a higher than expected water bill.

What else can you do to reduce water usage?

• Upgrading older plumbing fixtures, such as installing high-efficiency toilets, can reduce water consumption inside the home. Modern high-efficiency toilets use significantly less water per flush than older models while maintaining performance. Water-efficient showerheads and faucet aerators can also reduce water usage without noticeable impact on performance.
• Inspect your irrigation system regularly to identify issues that could lead to both uneven watering and wasted water.
• Adjust irrigation schedules seasonally to prevent over- or under-use.
• Consider installing a smart irrigation controller and/or rain and soil moisture sensors, which can automatically adjust irrigation schedules based on actual soil conditions.
• Replace broken or older sprinkler heads with high-efficiency sprinkler nozzles, which apply water more slowly and uniformly, allowing moisture to soak into the soil instead of running onto sidewalks, driveways, or streets and into the storm drains.

By focusing on proven upgrades and routine maintenance, homeowners can reduce water waste, improve efficiency, and better manage water usage throughout their property, resulting in savings in both water usage and cost on their water bills.