Conroe sets lawn watering rules as it struggles to keep up with growth

Council unanimously agreed Thursday to amend its ordinance on irrigation to restrict watering to odd-number addresses ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9 only on Tuesdays and Fridays and even addresses ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 only on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Residents can water their yards from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. only on their respective days.

“Our mission is to educate people on property irrigation,” said Norm McGuire, assistant city administrator and director of public works. “We will implement measures for people who are habitual violators.”

The restrictions will remain in place as the city works through the water supply issues.

According to the ordinance, the first violation will be a warning, but a second violation carries a $200 fine, and a third carries a $300 fine. Each violation after that carries a $500 fine.

Councilman Harry Hardman said the restrictions approved by council are not about water conservation but in response to the city’s lack of infrastructure to serve the growing community.

“This ordinance will affect the people I represent and it pains me to have vote for this item,” Hardman said. “We are all causalities of years of neglect and lack of vision from our former city administrator and we must now pay the price.”

In an April 18 memo to McGuire and City Engineer Chris Bogert said the city’s water consultant, Houston-based Lockwood, Andrews & Newman, has provided information showing “a dire situation” with water pressure issues on the city’s north side.

McGuire said that over the past ten years, the city has not properly funded its capital improvement program and has cut water and sewer projects.

“Over the last five years, if I was afforded that money, we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” McGuire said. “That’s realistic; we can’t be naïve to that.”