Overview
- City leaders set aside the proposal after residents and council members pressed for clear rules on enforcement, fees and fairness between households and refineries.
- The water department’s plan would trigger uniform 25 percent cuts for all customers during a Level 1 emergency, defined as when supply is projected to be 180 days from falling short of demand.
- Residents would face a 5,250‑gallon monthly limit, fines up to $500 for violations, potential shutoffs after a second offense and a $4 charge for every 1,000 gallons used above 7,000.
- Large industrial users account for up to 60 percent of the city’s water use, and eight companies, including Valero, Citgo and Flint Hills Resources, previously bought an exemption from drought surcharges by paying 31 cents per 1,000 gallons.
- Reservoirs that supply more than 95 percent of the city’s water have fallen to about 8 percent of capacity, and experts warn the emergency threshold could be reached as soon as September without significant rain.