Communities Call For Water Conservation | Houston weather, traffic, and news | MyFoxHouston.com | FOX 26

HOUSTON, Texas - With another week of above average temperatures and minimal rain in sight, cities around the Houston area are beginning to ask its residents to conserve water. Meanwhile, Fort Bend County officials canceled a boil order notice for residents of two Fort Bend County subdivisions which was inititated when two water wells were not able to keep up with demand

Friday afternoon Conroe city officials announced that it had activated stage 2 of its drought contingency plan. Stage 2 refers to moderate water shortages.

This means that residents of Conroe are prohibited from filling pools, washing vehicles or using lawn sprinkler systems between the hours of 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.

There are some exceptions to that rule, however.

Conroe city officials say that residents can still water their lawns at anytime if they are using a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shut off nozzle, a faucet filled bucket of water (5 gallons or less), or a drip irrigation system.

"This is the result of the water demand in Conroe exceeding 95% production capacity on June 17, 2009 and June 18, 2009," states Assistant City Administrator Paul Virgadamo.

On Friday, the city of Pearland had a similar request to its citizens.

While not mandatory, Pearland city officials asked its residents to be conscientious about lawn watering and not to water during the heat of the day when much of the water will evaporate before the soil can absorb it.

They stated that early morning and late evening watering is more beneficial to your lawn and the city's water system.

Fort Bend County officials canceled a boil water notice for residents in Municipal Utility Disitrict No. 34, which includes the Seven Meadows and Hickory Creek subdivisons. The order was initiated 6:30 a.m. Saturday when two water wells were not able to keep up with demand.

A neighboring district was contacted to possibly assist by supplying water through an inter-connect between the two, but that system was barely meeting the demand of its own customers.

Because of the low water pressure Saturday morning, Fort Bend County officials issued the boil water notice as a precaution until the pressure could restored and laboratory results showed that there was no bacterial intrusion into the system.

Fort Bend officials said that to ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes that might be present, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to consumption.

via myfoxhouston.com