(Reuters) - A devastating Texas drought that has browned city lawns and caused more than $5 billion in damages to the state's farmers and ranchers could continue for another nine years, a state forecaster said on Thursday.
"It is possible that we could be looking at another of these multiyear droughts like we saw in the 1950s, and like the tree rings have shown that the state has experienced over the last several centuries," State Climatologist John Nielson-Gammon told Reuters.
Some 95 percent of the state is listed as being in either "severe" or "exceptional" drought by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Drought Monitor, and Nielson-Gammon said the last 12 months have been the driest one-year period on record in the Lone Star State.
The state's worst recorded drought lasted from 1950 through 1957 and prompted the creation of artificial lakes all across Texas to supply water to a state that at the time had a population of 15 million - a whopping 10 million fewer than today.
The long-term weather patterns, including La Nina currents in the oceans, mirror records from the early 1950s, Nielsen-Gammon said. The current drought, which he said began in earnest in 2005, could wind up being a 15-year stretch if patterns hold, he said.
"We're very lucky that we had 2007 and 2010, which were years of plentiful rain," he said. "2010 was the wettest year in record. Were it not for last year, we would be in much worse shape even than we are today."
Conditions in Texas now are far from good. The drought has dried up many lakes built after the drought of the 1950s, and more than 23,000 separate wildfires fueled by dried brush and trees have destroyed 3.8 million acres and with that 2,800 homes, according to the Texas Forest Service.
Nielson-Gammon said Texas was now 10 to 20 inches of rainfall behind where it should be at the end of September, usually one of the state's wettest months.
Rather than being the exception, severe drought could become the rule in Texas going forward, with wet years being more noteworthy.
"We've had five of the last seven years in drought, and it looks like it is going to be six out of eight," he said.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Public Notice: chemistry
Questions have come up on taste and safety of the new well. Results of required testing from the state of Texas, TCEQ are posted below.
Cloudy water? Water in the distribution system is under pressure. Air sometimes dissolves in the water in the pressurized lines. At the faucet, the air gives water a "cloudy" or "milky" appearance. In fact many faucets have aeration features built in. The quality of the water is not affected by the entrained air. Let the water stand in an open container for a few minutes. The air in the water will disperse to the atmosphere.
The EPA guideline for drinking water sodium is 20 mg/L. This is a very low level, chosen because long term exposure may increase blood pressure in susceptible individuals. Excessive sodium may also produce a salty taste. The World Health Organization has a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 200 mg/L for sodium. TCEQ does not currently have a standard for sodium.
pH is a measure of hydrogen ion activity in a solution. pH 7 is neutral, while pH's below 7 are acidic, and those above 7 are basic. TCEQ's standard for pH in Texas water is pH 7 or greater. EPA's pH guideline is 6.5 - 8.5. pH's below 6.5 are corrosive.
Cloudy water? Water in the distribution system is under pressure. Air sometimes dissolves in the water in the pressurized lines. At the faucet, the air gives water a "cloudy" or "milky" appearance. In fact many faucets have aeration features built in. The quality of the water is not affected by the entrained air. Let the water stand in an open container for a few minutes. The air in the water will disperse to the atmosphere.
The EPA guideline for drinking water sodium is 20 mg/L. This is a very low level, chosen because long term exposure may increase blood pressure in susceptible individuals. Excessive sodium may also produce a salty taste. The World Health Organization has a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 200 mg/L for sodium. TCEQ does not currently have a standard for sodium.
pH is a measure of hydrogen ion activity in a solution. pH 7 is neutral, while pH's below 7 are acidic, and those above 7 are basic. TCEQ's standard for pH in Texas water is pH 7 or greater. EPA's pH guideline is 6.5 - 8.5. pH's below 6.5 are corrosive.
Saving Water
10 EASY WATER CONSERVATION TIPS
1 Water your yard thoroughly, but only as needed usually no more than 1 inch, once a week.
2 Use drip irrigation for plants and gardens, and water early in the morning to minimize evaporation.
3 Collect rainwater for landscape use it is great for the plants, and can save you water and money.
4 Install aerators to cut in half the amount of water used by each faucet.
5 Fix faucet leaks, which can waste up to 3,000 gallons of water a year.
6 Install water-efficient plumbing fixtures to reduce water consumption by 25% to 60% and save energy.
7 Check your toilet by using a leak-detection dye tablet. Leaks can waste up to 200 gallons of water a day.
8 Replace older toilets with water-efficient models and save up to 4,000 gallons of water a year.
9 Wash only full loads of laundry an average household can save more than 3,400 gallons of water each year.
10 Invest in an Energy Star-qualified clothes washer, which typically uses 50% less water and 37% less energy per load.
1 Water your yard thoroughly, but only as needed usually no more than 1 inch, once a week.
2 Use drip irrigation for plants and gardens, and water early in the morning to minimize evaporation.
3 Collect rainwater for landscape use it is great for the plants, and can save you water and money.
4 Install aerators to cut in half the amount of water used by each faucet.
5 Fix faucet leaks, which can waste up to 3,000 gallons of water a year.
6 Install water-efficient plumbing fixtures to reduce water consumption by 25% to 60% and save energy.
7 Check your toilet by using a leak-detection dye tablet. Leaks can waste up to 200 gallons of water a day.
8 Replace older toilets with water-efficient models and save up to 4,000 gallons of water a year.
9 Wash only full loads of laundry an average household can save more than 3,400 gallons of water each year.
10 Invest in an Energy Star-qualified clothes washer, which typically uses 50% less water and 37% less energy per load.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Public Notice: Interim Well 2 Approval
Good Morning,
Interim approval for well 2 was issued by TCEQ and the transition to the well took place this morning. You will notice differences between the water supplies, but the water is perfectly fine.
Restrictions remain in place. DO NOT think to abuse this source. The system is new and will likely have issues that need to be worked out.
As a reality check, the cost to our tiny well group of 37 connections for just the last 2 months of water from the city the bill is $23,000+ Purchasing water is extremely expensive. These costs will be passed on to each household when the board re-assesses how to cover this. When your neighbor is watering excessively or incorrectly, they are taking money from your pocket.
FYI....the average sprinkler puts down 1 inch of water in 30 minutes and a soaker hose in 4 hours. A "healthy" yard requires only 1 inch of water per week.
Christine O'Hara
President
Southlake Park Service, Inc.
Interim approval for well 2 was issued by TCEQ and the transition to the well took place this morning. You will notice differences between the water supplies, but the water is perfectly fine.
Restrictions remain in place. DO NOT think to abuse this source. The system is new and will likely have issues that need to be worked out.
As a reality check, the cost to our tiny well group of 37 connections for just the last 2 months of water from the city the bill is $23,000+ Purchasing water is extremely expensive. These costs will be passed on to each household when the board re-assesses how to cover this. When your neighbor is watering excessively or incorrectly, they are taking money from your pocket.
FYI....the average sprinkler puts down 1 inch of water in 30 minutes and a soaker hose in 4 hours. A "healthy" yard requires only 1 inch of water per week.
Christine O'Hara
President
Southlake Park Service, Inc.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Public Notice: Water Fine Changes
Christine O'Hara, President
Shelly Hattan , P.E., Cert. Operator
Jim Giffin, Chairman
Arthur Mitchell, Director
Southlake Park Service, Inc.
3340 Southlake Park Rd, Southlake, TX 76092
September 1, 2011
Community Well Owners
of Southlake Park Service, Inc.
Subject: Fines
Water Restrictions
Texas
The restriction implementation for our area continues as we go through the approval process for well #2. These restrictions have been in effect, on a continual basis for months, yet Southlake Park Service continues to have to issue warnings and fines.
Water is a restricted resource, regardless if coming from our wells or Southlake, and that concept simply isn't being accepted by all in our community.
The city of Southlake and Southlake Park Service have worked together for many years. They (City of Southlake) have been invited to patrol our area for water violations with complete power to issue citations. Patrols will consisit of police, city water dept, etc.... In addition, please continue to report violations to the board.
Since July 25, 2011, Southlake has issued 1350 warning and 215 citations. Please be aware that the average fine is running $352.00 per offense, increasing for repeat violators. As an example of what a fine could run: watering on incorrect day, incorrect time, and an open hose. This ticket would be $1056.00.
The guidelines which Southlake Park Service and City of Southlake follows are in line with regional conservation efforts promoted by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Northern Trinity Water Conservation District, the Tarrant Regional Water District, and wholesale water supplier, the City of Ft. Worth. Southlake Park Service and City of Southlake are required by law to conserve water and, by extension, so are our customers.
This is Texas and droughts are common. The new well (well #2) was drilled because the water table in the Paluxy Auquifer has been going down. We want this new well to last just as long, but that is only going to happen if the water is used responsibly.
Sincerely,
O'Hara
Christine O'Hara
Southlake Park Service, Inc.
President
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