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Drought Response Plan <br />for the <br />City of San Marcos, TX <br />1.0 Introduction <br />Droughts and other uncontrollable circumstances can disrupt availability of water <br />supplies from both ground and surface water sources. Higher consumer demands during drought <br />periods place additional strain on already stressed water supplies. Limitations on the supply of <br />either ground or surface water, or on facilities to pump, treat, store, or distribute water constitute <br />an emergency demand management situation. <br />The objectives of the City of San Marcos Drought Response Plan (the Plan) are to protect <br />water supplies in order to protect human health, safety and welfare, and to minimize adverse <br />impacts caused by drought and other uncontrollable water supply emergencies. The objectives <br />will be achieved through implementation of both voluntary and mandatory demand management <br />measures. The goal of demand management is to reduce non-essential water uses such as <br />landscape irrigation, ornamental fountains and ponds, washing of motor vehicles and washing of <br />impervious surfaces, in order to provide an uninterrupted supply of water for essential uses such <br />as drinking, bathing, sanitation, and fire protection. <br />The San Marcos Emergency Water Demand Management Plan was originally established <br />in 1991 and was revised by the San Marcos City Council in 1994 and 1996. The Plan has been <br />amended several times to provide consistency with guidelines established by applicable state <br />entities including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Texas Water <br />Development Board (TWDB), Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA), and Region L Planning <br />Group. <br />The Plan currently provides for year-round restrictions and four demand management <br />stages, and includes the following elements: <br />• Trigger conditions signaling the start of each drought response stage; <br />• Reduction goals for each drought response stage; <br />a Mandatory demand reduction measures for each stage; and <br />• Penalties for violations. <br />1 <br />