Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on an Ordinance Amending Chapter 110, Article VI of the Code of Ordinances Relating to the Modified North Texas Municipal Water District’s Model Water Resource and Emergency Management Plan
SUMMARY
COUNCIL GOAL: Operational Excellence
2B: Balance Available Resources to Accommodate the Growth and
Maintenance needs of the City
MEETING DATE: April 16, 2024
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
CONTACT: Ryan Gillingham, Director of Public Works
Michael George, Assistant Director of Public Works
Mandra Caplinger, Regulatory Compliance Coordinator
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
• Approval of the Ordinance Amendment.
ITEM SUMMARY:
• The Texas Water Code requires all Public Water Suppliers to update their water conservation plan and drought contingency plan every five (5) years. The City’s current plans were approved in April 2019. The plans are to be submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) by May 1, 2024.
• Drought Contingency Plans, also known as a Water Resource and Emergency Management Plan, should include strategies for temporary supply and demand management responses to water shortages and other water supply emergencies. Such as:
o Establishing and defining contingency stages, providing public education, reporting to TCEQ, and establishing enforcement actions.
• North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) designed model plans, called the NTMWD 2024 Model Water Conservation and Water Resource and Emergency Management Plan. The model plan is a template designed to meet TCEQ regulations, while remaining flexible to be tailored to each City’s particular parameters. The 2024 model plan recommended various changes to the Drought Contingency Plan. These amendments reflect the updated recommendations:
o Change the Drought Contingency Plan Ordinance, Section 110-366 - Public Education, to include notifying the public by various means such as press releases, water bill inserts, social media, and the city’s website.
o Change the Drought Contingency Plan Ordinance, Section 110-369 - Definitions, to reflect words, terms and phrases that are applicable to the current plan.
o Change the Drought Contingency Plan Ordinance, Section 110-371 - Drought Condition Operations, to reflect updated demand reduction goals for each drought stage.
§ Stage 1 goal 2%.
§ Stage 2 goal 5%.
§ Stage 3 goal 30%.
o Change the Drought Contingency Plan Ordinance, Section 110-372 - System Limitation Operations, to include updated requirements for each drought stage initiation, as outlined by North Texas Municipal Water District.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• The City recognizes that the amount of water available to its water customers is limited and that due to natural limitations, drought conditions, system failures and other acts of God which may occur, the City cannot guarantee an uninterrupted water supply for all purposes to its customers.
• Therefore, the City finds it necessary to adopt this resolution to meet State law and follow NTMWD recommendations.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY: N/A
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: N/A