For Katy-area households, the message is straightforward: conserving a little water now could help prevent much tighter restrictions later.

The City of Katy has activated Stage 1, or Mild, of its Water Conservation Plan, asking customers to voluntarily reduce water use as the city works toward a roughly 5% reduction from its baseline historical monthly average water usage. For residents in Woodcreek Reserve, that means there is no mandatory watering schedule at this stage, but the city is asking households and businesses to begin making conservation-minded choices immediately.

Stage 1 is primarily an awareness and voluntary conservation stage. The goal is to ease demand on Katy’s water system before conditions reach the point where more restrictive measures become necessary.

What Stage 1 Water Conservation Means in Katy

Under Stage 1, residents are being asked to voluntarily cut back on water use wherever practical, with particular attention to outdoor irrigation and other uses that can consume significant amounts of water.

The City of Katy recommends that residents:

• Voluntarily reduce overall water consumption.
• Water lawns and landscaping only between 12 a.m. and 8 a.m. or 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m.
• Avoid draining and completely refilling swimming pools when possible. Water can still be added to replace losses from normal pool use and operation.
• Check for and promptly repair leaking irrigation systems, sprinkler heads, hoses and other sources of unnecessary water loss.
• Reduce nonessential uses such as excessive pressure washing or vehicle washing, particularly during periods of higher demand.
• Those relatively small adjustments can matter when multiplied across thousands of homes and businesses.

For Woodcreek Reserve homeowners, one of the easiest places to begin may be the sprinkler system. Shifting irrigation away from the heat of the day can reduce evaporation while also helping the city manage periods of heavier demand.

Katy Is Targeting a 5% Reduction in Water Use

The goal under Stage 1 Mild is to reduce water consumption by approximately 5% compared with the city’s Baseline Historical Monthly Average Water Usage, which is calculated using water-use data from the previous 12 months.

The City of Katy’s Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan is designed to protect the reliability of the community’s water supply during drought conditions or other water emergencies. The plan was developed using guidelines from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Texas Water Development Board.

The city provides water and wastewater service to its customers and has said its goal is to provide drinking water that meets the State of Texas “superior” rating while maintaining pressures needed for everyday residential and business use and meeting conservation goals.

Stage 1 also calls for action inside city government. Measures can include increased leak detection and repair, reductions in nonessential municipal water use such as street cleaning and vehicle washing, less operation of ornamental fountains and reduced landscape irrigation at city facilities.

Major water users may also be contacted and encouraged to participate in voluntary conservation efforts.

Stage 1 Is Voluntary — Not a Mandatory Watering Schedule

One distinction is especially important for Katy residents: Stage 1 does not currently impose the address-based mandatory watering schedules associated with more severe stages.

Residents are being asked to conserve rather than being directed to water only on certain days according to their address.

That distinction matters because Katy’s Drought Contingency Plan becomes progressively more restrictive if water conditions worsen.

Stage 2 Moderate: 10% Water-Use Reduction Goal

Under Stage 2 Moderate, Katy’s target increases to a 10% reduction compared with baseline historical monthly water usage.

Actions can build upon Stage 1 and include additional conservation education, engineering studies to evaluate alternatives if conditions continue deteriorating and the halting of nonessential city government water use.

Residents may be asked to limit landscape irrigation to three days per week, still within the hours of midnight to 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

The Stage 2 schedule listed by the city is:

• Addresses ending in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
• Addresses ending in 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9: Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
• Commercial properties, HOAs, greenspaces and rights-of-way: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Stage 2 can also include limitations on hydrant flushing outside necessary water-system repairs and additional efforts to discourage unnecessary pressure washing and similar water uses.

Stage 3 Severe Brings Mandatory Restrictions

If conditions escalate to Stage 3 Severe, Katy’s goal becomes a 15% reduction in water use, and mandatory restrictions can be implemented.

Stage 3 measures can prohibit hosing paved areas and buildings, operating ornamental fountains, washing or rinsing vehicles with a hose, allowing water to run off or otherwise be wasted, establishing new landscaping, and draining and refilling pools. Water may still be added to existing pools to replace losses caused by normal operation and use.

Landscape watering is limited to twice per week during approved hours:

• Even-numbered addresses: Sunday and Thursday.
• Odd-numbered addresses: Saturday and Wednesday.
• Commercial properties, HOAs, greenspaces and rights-of-way: Tuesday and Friday.
• Monday: No watering as a storage recovery day.

Under Stage 3, the first violation can result in a written warning. Second and subsequent violations can result in citations carrying fines of not less than $100 and up to $2,000 per incident, and the city may disconnect water service, subject to appeal.

Stage 4 Emergency Is the Most Restrictive Level

Stage 4 Emergency carries a water-use reduction goal of 20%, although the mayor, city manager or a designee may establish a greater reduction goal if circumstances warrant.

At that level, private pool filling is prohibited, vehicle washing is prohibited except when necessary for health, sanitation or safety reasons, and commercial water users can be required to reduce consumption by a percentage established by the city.

Landscape watering is limited to one day per week during the approved overnight and evening watering windows:

• Addresses ending in 1 or 3: Tuesday.
• Addresses ending in 0 or 2: Wednesday.
• Addresses ending in 5 or 7: Thursday.
• Addresses ending in 4 or 6: Friday.
• Addresses ending in 8 or 9: Saturday.
• Commercial properties, HOAs, greenspaces and rights-of-way: Sunday.
• Monday: No watering as a storage recovery day.

Stage 4 enforcement begins with a written warning. Second and subsequent violations may result in fines ranging from $200 to $2,000 per incident, and water service can also be disconnected, subject to appeal.

Water Restrictions Apply to City of Katy Water Customers

Residents should also understand that City of Katy drought restrictions apply to City of Katy water service customers. Municipal Utility Districts outside Katy city limits may have their own conservation plans, drought stages and watering restrictions.

Customers who are unsure which rules apply to their property should check with their specific water provider rather than assuming City of Katy restrictions automatically extend throughout the broader Katy area.

That distinction can be especially important in communities around Katy, where neighboring homes can sometimes receive water service from different government or utility entities.

What Residents Can Do Right Now

Because Katy remains at Stage 1, residents have an opportunity to respond before mandatory restrictions become necessary.

Simple steps can include repairing dripping sprinkler heads, checking irrigation systems for broken lines, shortening watering cycles, avoiding watering during hotter portions of the day, delaying unnecessary pool draining and cutting back on water-intensive cleaning projects.

A single leaking sprinkler may not appear significant on its own, but citywide conservation depends on thousands of individual decisions adding up.

Residents who see a possible water leak can contact City of Katy Public Works at 281-391-4820 so a water technician can be dispatched. Questions about conservation can also be directed to publicworksinfo@cityofkaty.com. 

If later mandatory Stage 3 or Stage 4 restrictions are activated, drought violations can be reported to droughtviolations@cityofkaty.com or Public Works at 281-391-4820. Reports should include the address, date and time of the suspected violation and, when available, photos or video.

Customers whose water service is disconnected because of a Stage 3 or Stage 4 violation may submit a written request for restoration to the drought violations email address or deliver a request to the city at 901 Avenue C, Katy, TX 77493.

Why Early Water Conservation Matters for Katy

Water conservation plans are meant to give a city several levels of response rather than waiting until water demand reaches an emergency.

At the Mild stage, the emphasis remains on awareness and cooperation. If voluntary conservation lowers demand sufficiently, residents may be able to avoid the inconvenience of designated watering days and mandatory restrictions that accompany higher stages.

That makes the current request less about dramatic changes to daily routines and more about a shared effort to manage a resource every household depends on.

Residents can review the City of Katy’s full Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan, including all four drought stages and watering schedules, at cityofkaty.com/water-conservation. 

My Neighborhood News will continue following City of Katy water conservation updates and any changes that could affect local residents, homeowners and businesses.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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