Portales water levels drop over weekend

The City of Portales on Wednesday issued a correction, clarifying conditions under which it would return to “Stage 3” water restrictions.

Water levels in the city of Portales storage tanks dropped 4 feet over last weekend, leading to the city warning residents it may soon return to more strict water conservation standards.

“As of Friday,” a city press release stated, “water storage tanks were at 29.5 feet. As of Monday … the water storage tanks are at 25.3 feet.”

The news release, from Interim City Manager T. J. Cathey, was corrected noting, “As per the current Drought Contingency Plan if the tank levels fall below 18 feet, we go back into Stage 3 restrictions.”

Cathey had originally noted the critical water level was 22 feet, acknowledging the error in an updated Wednesday news release.

City Council members late last month relaxed some water restrictions that had been enforced for most of a year. The Stage 3 restrictions prohibited most outdoor watering.

Cathey wrote no leaks have been reported.

As for a reason for the drop, Cathey was specific.

“The demand for water usage has increased with the change from Stage 3 to modified Stage 2,” Cathey wrote.

The “modified Stage 2” restrictions currently in effect still prohibit most outdoor watering but allow city residents to water lawns for 30 minutes per week.

According to the city news release, odd addresses may water lawns for 30 minutes from 9 p.m. Mondays until 7 a.m. Tuesdays. Even addresses may water lawns for 30 minutes from 9 p.m. Thursdays until 7 a.m. Fridays.

Handheld buckets and shut-off hoses can be used anytime. Reclaimed and greywater may be used anytime, per the Stage 2 guidelines.

Other points of the Stage 2 guidelines are:

Government: Parks, Pool, Cemetery, and Fire Services specify on outdoor landscape watering: No watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. No watering on Mondays, then may water Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Swimming pools: One initial filling for recirculating pools only, no draining and refilling.

Schools and Churches outdoor landscape watering: No watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. No watering on Mondays, then may water Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Handheld buckets and shut-off hoses can be used anytime. Reclaimed and greywater may be used anytime.

Residential outdoor landscape watering: Each household can water for 30 minutes per week per household between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. Odd addresses water on from 9 p.m. Monday until 7 a.m. Tuesday. Even addresses water from 9 p.m. Thursday until 7a.m, Friday. Handheld buckets and shut-off hoses can be used anytime. Reclaimed and greywater may be used anytime.

Car Washing: Anytime if bucket or shut-off hose is used.

Spas and Swimming Pools: One initial filling for recirculating pools only, no draining and refilling.

Ornamental fountains: Allowed only if water is recirculating.

Commercial car washing: Anytime on immediate premises.

Nurseries: Encouraged to use conservation practices, but exempt from irrigation restrictions.

Restaurants: Only serve water on request.

In a Wednesday email, Cathey wrote there are three stages of water use restrictions.

Cathey attached a copy of the Portales guidelines.

In stage 3:

Outdoor landscape watering is prohibited except for cases where it’s essential to the wellbeing of the public. Trees and shrubs only with shut-off hose, hand-held container or drip irrigation. Greywater is ok on fruit trees, ornamental trees and shrubs.

Water for swimming pools is cut to minimize water usage to what is required for maintenance and chemical balance. Filling and refilling is prohibited.

All vehicle washing at a residence is prohibited.

Water runoff from sprinkler systems, washing driveways is prohibited.

Violations could be met with disruption or disconnection of water service.