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:

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.